Sexual Orientation added to Army EO protections, thoughts?

2015-11-09T00:56:01-05:00

EO= stops discrimination of ethnicity, national origin, gender, race, religion... And now sexual orientation.

Gay, lesbian and transgender soldiers who experience in-service harassment or discrimination because of their sexual orientation can now seek redress through the Army’s Equal Opportunity Program.

A directive, No. 2015-39, adding sexual orientation to the service’s military EO Program was issued Oct. 14 by John McHugh, the outgoing secretary of the Army.

A follow-on directive, No. 2015-40, provides guidance and implementing procedures for civilian employee anti-harassment policy. It was issued by McHugh Oct. 30, just hours before his tenure as Army secretary expired.

Together the directives provide detailed guidance to soldiers, employees, commanders and supervisors for addressing unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as race, color, national origin, religion or sex.

Under procedures now in effect, units are required to publish command policy statements on equal opportunity that indicate sexual orientation can be the basis of discrimination complaints.

The guidance calls for discrimination complaints by soldiers to be promptly investigated in a fair, impartial manner, and are appropriately resolved without the complainants facing reprisals, intimidation or retaliation.

Commanders also are required to make sure that complainants and the subjects of a complaint are provided feedback information about the status and outcome of the complaint.

The 10-page anti-harassment policy directive for civilian employees, and the commanders and supervisors of employees, is largely based on laws, many of them recently amended, dealing with equal employment opportunity in the federal government.

Key sections of the directive:

• Define harassing conduct.

• Establish a system of accountability for ensuring a workplace free of unlawful harassment.

• Outline employee rights and responsibilities.

• Provide procedures for reporting harassment.

• Require periodic anti-harassment training.

Sexual orientation added to Equal Opportunity Program for soldiers

Army defines redress procedures for doscisoldiers, civlGay, lesbian and trans-gender soldiers who experience in-service harassment or discrimination because of their sexual orientation can now seek redress through the Army’s Equal Opportunity Program

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Nov 9 at 2015 1:03 AM

2015-11-09T01:03:44-05:00

It used to be serving your country. Now it is who you like to sleep with.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 9 at 2015 1:12 AM

2015-11-09T01:12:31-05:00

This should make sense to EVERY rational person.

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Nov 9 at 2015 2:17 AM

2015-11-09T02:17:05-05:00

In 1969 I was informally informed by the Company Operations NCO that I had been "*king up in the Company" and should not look forward to graduation or promotion. Word later reached me indirectly that some folk in the Orderly Room found an opportunity to put my orders through a different signature channel before Sergeant First Class Snarlington* got a chance to quash them.

My wife of forty-six years still has some trouble understanding how some senior NCOs in the US Army identified me as a homosexual and decided that I should be tossed in the dumpster.

Wasteful. Stupid.

* Not his name. Actually, I can't recall his name. I do remember his voice over the barracks bullhorn, though.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 2:33 AM

2015-11-09T02:33:39-05:00

I am surprised it took this long to update the AR 600-20. I wonder why.
I would think that would have been done almost immediately after the DADT repeal.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Nov 9 at 2015 12:03 PM

2015-11-09T12:03:33-05:00

So can a male soldier claim to be a female and file a complaint that they were discriminated against because they were held to male PT standards?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-11-09T12:52:53-05:00

yes lets not care what happens in peoples bedrooms !!!!

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-11-09T13:06:56-05:00

This shouldnt have even been a discussion. Equal opportunity means just that; EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND PROTECTION TO EVERYONE. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Nov 9 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-11-09T15:54:27-05:00

Should have happened a long time ago.

Response by SSG Robert Spina made Nov 9 at 2015 8:49 PM

2015-11-09T20:49:10-05:00

POLITICAL CO

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 12:31 AM

2015-11-10T00:31:41-05:00

I don't think one service member should harass any other shoulder for any reason protected or not , we are all professionals .... But I think gays are thinking this is a one way protection ruling in their favor... It's will cut both ways ... I understand wanting to server your country and even though I'm not gay, I don't see where being gay would make you less of a patriot. I also don't see the need to dress in your military uniform and celebrate your sexual preference. If your a service member have pride in that.

Response by SSG Jeff Binkiewicz made Nov 10 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-11-10T08:18:33-05:00

I don't believe there was any name calling in his comment.

Response by SGT William Howell made Nov 17 at 2015 6:46 AM

2015-11-17T06:46:28-05:00

My thoughts, who cares?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2016 11:26 PM

2016-01-08T23:26:19-05:00

I forgot this was an issue. The military is a reflection of society, I think this is a norm for society now (even though I have not been in the civilian world in a while.....Fayetteville does not count) so it shouldn't be an issue in the military any more