Thread: Liberal me and the military vet agree on DADT

KingsRam, I think you make a very good point. I am not sure what my view here is, I would say, however, that the very last thing I think I would have thought about is if the guy over in the next rack was checking me out. I was waaaaaaaay to preoccupied with not getting on the bad side of my Drill Instructors, memorizing orders and trying to stay awake. Oorah.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

On the HIV issue I would fall to the side of, yes there should be mandatory testing for any dangerous communicable disease in the Military...

There probably is, and I don't disagree with that as part of someone's medical record. I don't think it is information that should be disclosed to everyone though.

The point I was trying to make is that it would be wrong to not render aid to someone, even if they did have a communicable disease. In both civilian and military medicine people are taught to use standard precautions (also called universal precautions or body substance isolation) so it is irrelevant if someone has a disease or not.
The argument that knowing someone in the military is gay might somehow prevent HIV infection on the battlefield is ridiculous.

I don't understand homophobia... I really don't

It never occurred to me to give a rip about someone's sexual orientation. When I was sharing hotel rooms with guys (sometimes up to 5) when traveling for team sports, my policy was "I don't care where you sleep, but I'm sleeping in one of those two beds..." I think I'd be fine if the barrack were full of gay guys; just give me a rack.

Having showered in plenty of open rooms, I don't think that would bother me either because who among us seriously are good looking enough to think anyone is really going to be checking us out?

Ok... I am, but still

Originally Posted by richmondesi

I don't think that would bother me either because who among us seriously are good looking enough to think anyone is really going to be checking us out?

Ok... I am, but still

Too True.

I couldn't read the article! I saw the article in the Air Force Times at work. The contigency planning for what to do to prepare. The horror of it all. The repeal of the DADT policy. And the big question was . . . .????

What the heck are we going to do about the bathrooms? Oh, yea, a big plan is in place for the engagement of bathroom planning. I can only hope they don't spend more than a million bucks of the taxpayers hard earned money solving that problem.

I'll have to read the article tomorrow, but I have my blood pressure to think about too.

Originally Posted by HNSB

Your friend has a logic problem.

Gay =/= HIV Positive
Hetero =/= HIV Negative

If that's his concern, perhaps he'd be happier with mandatory HIV testing, and some means of marking soldiers that are HIV positive so they can be left to die on the battlefield.

I wholeheartedly concur. It didn't make logical sense to me either; but I can only debate my co-worker so much before he gets a bit testy. Since he's bigger than me and has served in the military (I have not) I only challenge him so much on this issue and leave it at that...

Originally Posted by HNSB

Your friend has a logic problem.

Gay =/= HIV Positive
Hetero =/= HIV Negative

If that's his concern, perhaps he'd be happier with mandatory HIV testing, and some means of marking soldiers that are HIV positive so they can be left to die on the battlefield.

I know this may open a can of worms, but "men who have sex with men" are far more at risk of having HIV than many other groups. So much so that many blood banks will no longer accept donations from men who have sex with men.

CDC fact sheet

Don't ask Don't tell is a Security risk! Why because those members of the armed forces that do the job with as much dedication as any other are open to black mail by enemys of your country. have an open policy then the risk is removed. The British know this because they have learnt the hard way.

how about we allow openly gay people into the military and make it a requirement to beat the homophobia out of people while in bootcamp..

also.. wouldn't being hiv positive warrant a medical discharge?

There are many other things that put an individual at higher risk for HIV than gay/straight. the Red Cross bans blood donations from people who have used drugs, been tattood in the last year, ever utilized the "services" of a prostitute - the list goes on. If the military asked the hooker question to active servicemen, they'd loose half!

HIV is definitely on the list of things that get you discharged as well. They test.