Don't Ask, Don't Tell ... Don't Care

Melissa McEwan has a great post up at Guardian News, link cross-posted at Shakesville, "A Gay Old Time." You see, the House recently held hearings to review "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- the terrible policy that has actually led to MORE lesbians and gay men being discharged from the military simply because of who they love.

I watched the entire hearing. Even saw some of my friends in the audience. Women who have put their lives on the line for their country. It was clear that bigotry and homophobia are rampant among religious right advocates, even if that is not how they identify themselves. Is anyone surprised?

Just listen to what Melissa had to say about Elaine Donnelly:

Elaine Donnelly, the president of the Centre for Military Readiness, whose primary qualification as an "expert" on gay military issues appears to be a pathological fear of being photographed naked by a lesbian, actually created more sympathy for gay service members as she stumbled through the questioning during a House Armed Services personnel subcommittee hearing this week, in which the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy on homosexuality was being revisited.

…On behalf of soldiers "'who do have religious convictions," she argued they would be alienated by the "sexualized atmosphere" if forced to serve with gays and suffer their "introducing erotic factors" to the military.

She also raised the ominous specter of LGBTQI soldiers spreading "HIV positivity" through the ranks, in what one can only assume is a nefarious plot involving bare-backing members of Up with People.

You really have to watch it to believe -- see the whole committee hearing on this video.

It's past time to lift the ban on lesbians and gays in the military. If someone is willing to die for their country, it shouldn't matter who they love.

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