Is there a Double Standard for Gays in the Military?

2016-07-03T01:12:45-04:00

If two male Soldiers kiss in public, on base, people say nothing because they would be viewed as intolerant, but if a male and female Soldier do, it is viewed as inappropriate and unprofessional.

Response by SGT Laura Delgadillo made Jul 3 at 2016 1:14 AM

2016-07-03T01:14:53-04:00

I have never seen any hereto couple get told anything for kissing in public. How is this question an issue?

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 3 at 2016 1:15 AM

2016-07-03T01:15:55-04:00

Haven't seen it either way here.

Response by Cpl Jeff Buckman made Jul 3 at 2016 1:24 AM

2016-07-03T01:24:54-04:00

Yeah this is a non issue....

Response by SGT Tracey "Tra" Cooper-Harris made Jul 3 at 2016 1:40 AM

2016-07-03T01:40:54-04:00

I'll put it to you this way...Commanders turn a blind eye to small PDA (hugging, kissing, etc)in uniform during Homecomings and before deployment. Period. Other than that, I haven't see or heard of more PDA in the military period. Hell, it took me a good 3 yrs after I left the military in 2003 to have my wife hold my hand or comfort me in public as a civilian.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 2:54 AM

2016-07-03T02:54:32-04:00

if you jam your tongue down your girlfriend/boyfriends throat in public in front of a sergeant major, you might be asking for some trouble. i don't think any logical person would object to affection commonly displayed between couples in public such as hand holding or brief kissing, so long as they are out of uniform and on their own time. the only situation i foresee any trouble happening is if someone is quite literally acting like a middle schooler who just got their first date.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 3 at 2016 4:10 AM

2016-07-03T04:10:35-04:00

Simply put, no.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jul 3 at 2016 4:30 AM

2016-07-03T04:30:22-04:00

Military bearing is what it is and applies to all. Forget the who's, what's and such, just hold to the standards and there's really no issue. When you're holding the standard, then there's nothing to say.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 5:23 AM

2016-07-03T05:23:59-04:00

I bring this up because I saw it happen yesterday and it most certainly was an issue.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 7:24 AM

2016-07-03T07:24:14-04:00

In my experience, PDAs are rare enough except when members return from deployment, and are rarely called out in public. That said, PDAs are unprofessional in uniform in a work environment, and there's no reason not to treat all PDAs the same.

Response by SSgt Jerry DeLaney made Jul 3 at 2016 7:52 AM

2016-07-03T07:52:17-04:00

In these modern times, in matters such as this, it seems PC supersedes UCMJ. It's no longer "if the military wanted you to have a family they would have issued you one". In an all volunteer service, you have to accommodate the welfare of service members if you want to keep them in or attract quality people to join.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 8:12 AM

2016-07-03T08:12:17-04:00

Both are unprofessional it doesn't matter who it is. Two males, two females, or a male and female. I see no double standard when it comes to this subject.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2016 11:09 PM

2016-07-03T23:09:59-04:00

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member did you see a gay couple doing an inappropriate PDA and let it slide or are you just making up a strawman that says that gays get away with stuff but you've never actually seen this occur? I find it hard to believe that any NCO or officer is not correcting a gay couple if the level of PDA is such that they would have corrected a heterosexual couple doing the same thing. And I doubt that gay military couples would be less professional than straight couples in terms of following the regs anyway. . And finally, given the very small percentage of gay soldiers to start with, I just have trouble believing this is much of an issue at all.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 3 at 2016 11:27 PM

2016-07-03T23:27:57-04:00

Interesting Question, You have a valid point but I am reminded of 2 Iconic Pictures one from WWII in NY Times Square with a Sailor and a Young Lady and another many years later of 2 Females one being a sailor doing very much the same thing upon return from Westpac and after Gays could serve openly. I guess I'm a Sailor and not as fixated with Decorum or I throw Decorum to the wall quite frequently. LOL! I really don't care who is swapping spit with whom. Call it my Wordly Background and remembering the Jewel Box here in KC when I was a Teenager or the Mahoos in Hawaii when I was stationed there or the Benny Boys in the PI.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 3 at 2016 11:57 PM

2016-07-03T23:57:36-04:00

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY is ONLY EQUAL if you are NOT a MALE, HETEROSEXUAL CAUCASIAN. Damn, a Gay Black, homosexual transgender female is in ALL the "Protected Classes"

Give me a freaking break...The Army needs to MAN THE F UP and realize that the ARMY exists to go to the other guys house and F stuff up so that they can NEVER come to our house to F Stuff up....BUT NOW,Whoa Boy it is a Social Experiment.

Response by TSgt James Carson made Jul 7 at 2016 8:48 PM

2016-07-07T20:48:24-04:00

affection in uniform is always a NO, NO. Unprofessioal. In or out of the military,it really is not the proper thing to do in public. A polite and properly disaplined person saves affection for a private place. Respect your loved one.