Since the repeal of DADT, do you think homosexuals have any advantages over heterosexuals? This can be in any aspect of military life.

2015-05-29T00:16:06-04:00

Response by TSgt Jacob Sevdy made May 29 at 2015 12:21 AM

2015-05-29T00:21:23-04:00

Preferring the same gender sexually is just about as much an "advantage" as preferring redheads to blondes. It doesn't really change anything about you.

As long as a homosexual person isn't going out of their way to flaunt their sexuality in front of everyone at work, there really shouldn't be a noticeable difference between them and heterosexuals.

Response by SSG Demetrius Davis made May 29 at 2015 12:27 AM

2015-05-29T00:27:39-04:00

There is only so much space for the initial question. I want to add that if anyone responds to this question to keep your answers in respect to the question. I ask that you don't twist the question to one side or the other. This is not a question of whether homosexuality is wrong or right, good or bad, ethical or unethical, moral or immoral, blasphemous or not. To give an example of what I am asking I offer one of my opinions. I think homosexuals have an advantage when it comes to deployments in certain units. In my old unit, when on a deployment, soldiers of the opposite sex were not allowed in each others rooms be it for risk reduction of sexual assault, unplanned (or planned) pregnancies resulting in loss of man power, or whatever reasoning behind that policy. At no time is sex prohibited between service members just that darn visitation policy, hence married couples were able to share a CHU if space permitted. For those units that still have that policy in place, I believe that it is unfair that homosexual females/males can visit each other and have sex while straight soldiers cannot. I am not saying that homosexuals are out there having orgies or anything of the sort so please do not take this opinion to the extreme. This is just one example of what my initial question is asking.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 29 at 2015 12:29 AM

2015-05-29T00:29:41-04:00

I am probably living under a mushroom, but I don't see advantage or disadvantages on either side.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 12:32 AM

2015-05-29T00:32:46-04:00

Being open myself, I don't believe being homosexual has impacted me at all, or brought any advantages/disadvantages. No one has ever questioned as to whether or not I can perform my job, nor has the topic been brought up of "how does it affect unit cohesion." - because it doesn't. It's a professional environment, sexual orientation is the last concern of anyone. Everyone is equal, mission is more important anyways.

That's my take personally.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made May 29 at 2015 12:33 AM

2015-05-29T00:33:57-04:00

I personally knew and was friends with at least two people who were homosexual at my last unit and they had no more advantage or disadvantage than anyone else. We all perform the same job and are expected to adhere to the same standards. We were all treated fairly regardless of our personal lives.

Response by SSG Demetrius Davis made May 29 at 2015 12:48 AM

2015-05-29T00:48:01-04:00

Please do not take this negatively or as taking offense to any answers given so far. So far the answers have not been rude or negative in any way. However, some comments are not completely staying on topic. I'd like to try and explain the question a bit more. I am not asking whether there is a difference in the performance between homo- and hetero- sexuals, I am not asking if friends or fellow soldiers treating homosexuals any differently. For those that do not think there is any advantage at all, your comments should be short saying no or a rebuttal to anyone who says yes with an example. I hope I am not coming off as rude or anything. I am just trying to further explain the intent of my question. When touchy topics such as DADT come up, people tend to not focus on what was asked and instead explain related stories or opinions but not actually answering the question. I hope I've elaborated on what I was asking.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 29 at 2015 1:28 AM

2015-05-29T01:28:18-04:00

Out of ignorance, I'm really positioning this as a question: Compensation for being single v. married v. dependents. Does the DoD recognize same-sex marriage for the purposes of pay & benefits? Does a gay, civilian military spouse/partner rate the same privileges as their straight counter-parts? If a gay couple gets an apartment, vice living on base, do they both rate independent BAQ/BAH/BHA (or, whatever the acronym for housing allowance is called)? If a child is part of this union, can both service members independently claim them? Sorry, I've been out too long to do nothing more than pose more questions...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 3:51 AM

2015-05-29T03:51:19-04:00

So far, at the time of this reply, no one has responded that they see any advantages. How can this be? What if two homosexual Soldiers decide to date? They could be in each other's rooms or the same tent (or the same room, if they're roommates) getting busy, and no one would stop it because they're of the same gender. However, heterosexuals are usually not TECHNICALLY allowed to get busy in their rooms because either the door must stay open or they can't have overnight guests, and they definitely can't be roommates. Personally, I think that homosexuals do have an advantage. If you disagree, tell me how I, as a straight female, can get a male roommate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 4:23 AM

2015-05-29T04:23:49-04:00

I do see one advantage that I don't agree with. I have no issues with Homosexuals serving, but my issue is why do same sex couples get granted permissive tdy to get married and other couples do not. I understand that they have to go to certain states to be married, but most other couples leave town to get married as well. I believe that they should be required to use accrued leave just as other couples. Aside from that I don't see any issues.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 7:17 AM

2015-05-29T07:17:17-04:00

There are no additional advantages. As for the subject of the PTDY, yes straight couples often choose to get married out of town, but it's a choice. They can get married in any institution of any state, homosexuals cannot. It's just like if you live in on-post housing and choose to move, you have to take leave. If you live in housing, and they decide to tear down your house, and you are forced to move, you are authorized PTDY. As for the topic of people in barracks rooms that happen to both be homosexual, the rules still apply to them. They just happen to be in a situation that makes it easier to get away with, that doesn't mean it's right, or an advantage that they are being given over straight people. Straight people have been getting it on in porta-johns as long as there have been porta-johns & tents, same with gay folks. I think it's time to drop this subject and move on with our lives, as I don't see the military change back to the way it was. Instead of continuing with the devisive mindset, we should be looking forward and asking ourselves what we can do to foster a mindset of being a team, instead of the opposite.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 7:26 AM

2015-05-29T07:26:49-04:00

I don't see any advantages over heterosexuals. I do see a big advantage when comparing where they were and where they are. It seems to me that the repeal of DADT makes homosexuals more equal, which is a good thing.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made May 29 at 2015 6:40 PM

2015-05-29T18:40:03-04:00

They don't get advantages, they just get equal.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 1 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-06-01T23:10:07-04:00

The repeal of DADT allows openly gay soldiers to be who they ate without reprisals. That's the only advantage that I see.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 1 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-06-01T23:47:52-04:00

Obama evolved and the first athletes to announce they were gay got a personal call from Obama and White House invites. So Michael Sam announce he is gay. But the novelty has worn off. But it helped him get the last draft pick. His picture of him French kissing his boy friend who has just eaten a bag of Doritos. Another's football player comments on it. He is forced to go to sensitivity training and pay a fine, maybe a suspension. Micheal Sam is cut and he calls everyone involved a bunch of homophobes . That had to be the reason he was cut.
I retired before DADT was repealed.
It's about serving your country. It's not about your life style or your agenda. I wonder how many people had to attend a homosexual sensitivity class?

Response by Capt Vickie Adams made Jun 30 at 2015 10:01 AM

2015-06-30T10:01:11-04:00

No. I don't think there will be ANY advantage granted.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 17 at 2016 3:12 PM

2016-03-17T15:12:49-04:00

I can't comment about military life, but I will say that it does have impact in Civilian life. "Diversity" is a big catch phrase in the corporate world, and if your team has too many heterosexual Caucasian's on a team that team can be labeled as discriminatory (even if no qualified candidates applied for open positions).

It's ridiculous really... I had a manager that mentioned this as a concern at a previous job and I just responded "Well tell them that Nolen and I are lovers and that should solve the problem" (Nolen was standing right next to me at the time). We laughed, but it's a simple truth that the bureaucracy SHOULD be blind to race, religion, gender, and sexual preference... if it's not blind, then by definition it's discriminatory.

Response by SSG Donald Bramley made Sep 12 at 2023 11:19 PM

2023-09-12T23:19:50-04:00

We, LGBTQ+ GI's have absolutely NO advantage anywhere in Military or in the world over heterosexuals what so ever. In fact what we gained in the last 15 years is STILL lacking Respect, Shided in job positions, Looked upon as a threat to
Society. We must, regardless of the "Far Right", acheve in these areas MORE.

Response by PFC Doyle Hayes made Sep 13 at 2023 10:14 AM

2023-09-13T10:14:46-04:00

Yes they do the little panseys need to be treated like all soldiers and if they sissy asses can't handle it then kick them out with a dishonorable discharge