I wonder, do the people like JoeyC who oppose it so vociferously -- civilians for whom the repeal of DADT would have no impact on whatsoever -- realize that there are gays and lesbians EVERYWHERE? We're doctors, lawyers, teachers, clergy, etc. People who you put your trust in to heal you when you're sick, take care of your legal affairs, teach your children, and look to for spiritual guidance. And odds are a gay person designed your clothing, cooked your meal at a fine restaurant, and wrote and recorded some of your favorite music too.
We can do all of those things and do them well, without offending anyone, without our sexuality being an issue. Yet, when we want to proudly serve our country openly and honestly, the homophobia rages on and suddenly we're sexual predators checking out the guy or girl next to us while we shower. Really? I'm shocked that people don't realize just how stupid that is.
I can only hope that someday, people will realize that being gay and lesbian is about so much more than just sex. Note to heterosexuals: we're just like you. We're just as diverse, just as multi-dimensional. We worry about global warming, the state of the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and health care reform too. And shockingly, some of us are fiscally conservative. Some of us are even more socially conservative than you'd expect. But no, according to folks like JoeyC, we're only interested in sex. And we check people out ALL THE TIME. Because we can't be professional and do our jobs -- whether we're doctors, lawyers, teachers or clergy; designers, chefs, or musicians, or in the military-- because apparently, we're so distracted by all that sex. If that were true, this would be a far more dysfunctional world than it already is.
DADT is destructive and discriminatory. It doesn't prevent gays and lesbians from being in the military, it prevents them from being out and being able to live their lives openly and proudly while serving their country in the most noble of ways. Why anyone would object to that is beyond me.