Isn't PDA still improper while in uniform?

SPC David S. — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:17:14 -0500

Lt. Col. Christopher Downey is trying to overturn his conviction for violating the regulation that ended the ban on gays openly serving in the military. In 2012, he tried to stop lesbian officers from 'prolonged French kissing' at a military ball.

Isn't this a PDA issue and not a LGBT issue?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/army-aviator-sues-forced-exit-lesbian-kissing-article-1.2011070

Army aviator sues for forced exit over lesbian kissing

An active duty Army aviator could be forced to retire after he asked two female officers to stop engaging in “prolonged French kissing” during a formal ball at New York’s Fort Drum two years ago.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 11:38 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 23:38:22 -0500

We talked about this at work today. It shouldn't have mattered who the couple were - gay, straight, etc. - it was an inappropriate PDA, and the LTC was right to correct it. He probably could have corrected it with a little more finesse, but still.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 22 at 2014 12:43 AM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:43:25 -0500

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone screamed "it is because I'm gay"...

Inappropriate public displays of affection is against regs, regardless of what your sexual orientation. Just sayin'!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 12:48 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:48:08 -0500

The interesting part of the story is that two females have already broken up. We are all required to maintain the highest standards and military bearing while we are in uniform, on duty or off duty.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 22 at 2014 9:47 AM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 09:47:49 -0500

If it happened how the article said then this is PDA on the spot correction and that was my vote. But with out being there and knowing his contex for doing. But beside the point you should not be french kissing in uniform at a formal event. The only exception i have to that would be coming back from deployment. To me your spouse should expect a small make out session upon getting you back.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 22 at 2014 10:03 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:03:11 -0500

I've seen the same correction made with heterosexual couples getting too intimate at military functions. Its a matter of appropriate behavior and has ZERO to do with sexual orientation.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 10:36 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:36:51 -0500

This is absolutely a PDA issue and the LTC did the absolute right thing. It's a shame that politics got involved. Had it been a heterosexual couple that he stopped, I don't think anything would have been said!

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Nov 22 at 2014 11:16 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 11:16:49 -0500

This PC crap has got to stop! Its getting ridiculous to the point where the only thing offensive anymore is being white, male, successful, or having any manner of authority. This is how you undermine a society and allow to to crumble down to nothing, you turn everyone against those with authority, success, or are in a majority of some kind until every minority feels entitled.

This LTC did entirely the right thing by regulations and it had nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the soldiers.

I also have to say that I have not seen a poll on here that seems to be 100% in any one direction.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 4:24 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:24:59 -0500

PDA's are still not authorized...that's why I stopped kissing my supervisor's ass years ago!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 6:27 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:27:15 -0500

Pretty sure if he had stopped a male and a female, he'd be a hero for halting a sexual assault.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Jan 14 at 2015 1:39 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:39:54 -0500

Like all stories there are at least three sides if not more but what LTC Downey performed was an on the spot correction and as officers in the United States Army they should know better.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 6:35 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:35:50 -0500

I can't make out with my boyfriend at official functions, she can't make out with her girlfriend. Plain and simple. The rules are the same for all couples across the board.

Response by MSgt Stephen Kammerer made Jan 21 at 2015 2:08 PM

MSgt Stephen Kammerer — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 14:08:47 -0500

nothing to do with sexual orientation, everything to do with inappropriate display of affection in public

Response by SGT Marika Waiters made Jan 21 at 2015 5:58 PM

SGT Marika Waiters — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:58:23 -0500

Yeeeeeaah... These kinds of things just make me mad. I don't care what your sexual orientation is! When you're in uniform or at a military function, PDA is a big no no!! Hell, I don't like it out in the civilian sector!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 6:06 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:06:02 -0500

This is okay and those two officers should know better and they should be fired.

Response by PO1 Paul Ziegler made Jan 21 at 2015 9:42 PM

PO1 Paul Ziegler — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 21:42:47 -0500

I know from past deployments with the Navy, homecoming is a very big deal and there is a great deal of "PDA" (I had never heard of this particular term until now). It was not unheard of for a sailor to grab his wife/girl friend and enjoy a prolonged kiss on the pier. At that time, being coped up with, on the Forrestal, 5000 men for between six and fourteen months it was good to hold my wife again.

However, at the time, there was no issue about gays in the military. The simple reason was that being gay in the military was a one way ticket to an Undesirable/Dishonorable discharge. For this reason many gay men kept their gender identity confidential.

Gay women, on the other hand, were a different story. It seems, at least in the Navy, that lesbians have always been tolerated. Why? I honestly don't understand this either. Maybe it's the same double standard the Navy has always had about Fraternization. An enlisted "man" is not supposed to date a woman officer. In fact an enlisted "man" is not supposed to frequent the officers club. However, enlisted women are not only allowed to frequent the officers club, they seem to be encouraged to do so. I personally know of one situation in which an enlisted woman (E-4) broke up a O-4's marriage and was allowed to not only marry him, but also held a valid E-4 military ID and a valid officers dependent ID. So much for no double standards in the military.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Jan 21 at 2015 10:08 PM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:08:50 -0500

I'd like to throw a "straight pride" parade and see how they handle it.
Being gay doesn't give you the right to throw it around any more than a straight couple.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2015 10:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:22:40 -0500

This seems pretty clear to me, and his punishment seems more political than anything else.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2015 6:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:52:32 -0500

If he was also making these on the spot corrections to opposite sex couples then I would say it was a PDA on the spot correction... however since that part of the story is omitted or never took place, I'm inclined to believe he was harassing this couple for the wrong reason instead of an acceptable one.

It's also worth noting that he was convicted of assaulting a photographer at the scene. It seems to me, that assaulting a photographer is much more serious that singling out a gay couple for an "on the spot" correction.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jan 23 at 2015 2:21 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 02:21:03 -0500

I'm bi and to me this is about time and place not sexuality. I'm sure if a hetero couple was doing that at the Marine Corps Ball someone would jump all over that.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2018 3:41 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 15:41:18 -0400

Only time I’d ok (a little) PDA is returning from a deployment.....maybe a wedding/funeral. Certainly making out at a formal event is a no-go.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Mar 6 at 2019 10:52 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 10:52:49 -0500

There are standards of conduct that have always been in place for public display of affection. This would apply to anyone, Homosexual or heterosexual. There is a time and place for that and not in public display in either or any case.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Aug 20 at 2019 4:01 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:01:59 -0400

Absoultely a PDA issue. You want to swap spit ok but not at a military function in uniform. IMHO.

Response by AN Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 11:25 AM

AN Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:25:12 -0500

In uniform, PDA is supposed to be prohibited, no one usually says anything to a hug or a quick peck. A full French kiss between any two people while in uniform would be immediately put to a stop. No matter who it is. No one wants to see that, especially if you’re in a military uniform.