Homophobia Still Plagues Gays in the Military

As brave men and women step up and serve our Military, both at home and abroad, why are some lauded as 'heroes' and others shunned as 'immoral?'

Has the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy been effective in protecting our homosexual soldiers' rights? Or has it set up a special set of standards that are still pressuring gay soldiers to stay in the closet?

The recent debate over the controversial comments of outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, remind us that true equality for homosexuals in the Military is still not complete. Pace admitted that gays and lesbians can contribute to our nation, yet he qualified that statement by adding that we should not "condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

How can he, on the one hand advocate equal rights and recognition for our gay and lesbian soldiers, while he continues to add the "immoral" argument in any discussion he has about the subject?

Until all the young men and women that are serving this country are valued with the same regard, despite their lifestyle, we will continue to allow prejudice and discrimination to foment and put undue stress upon a group of brave American soldiers who are laying their lives on the line for our country.

One cannot say they "respect" someone and in the same breath label them as "immoral." To do so - they are saying they "respect immorality." That copout has been used time and again, by homophobes that know the public want each and every soldier recognized for their service, while maintaining a holier-than-thou attitude.

It's bad enough that there is still an underlying current of sentiment running so deeply in our country that it has bullied its way into State legislatures, passing bans against equal rights for homosexuals - but when a military leader continues to label one segment of our brave men and women as "immoral," and citing God as his source, gay and lesbian soldiers will continue to feel singled out and many will make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation while feeling they have to hide who they are.