fbjsr: I get what you’re saying about the don’t ask part. You would think people aren’t supposed to ask and use third party info to dismiss someone, however in practice this has happened all the time, except recently. If you look up the recent CNN article on the House repealing DADT, read the ending paragraphs were it states that:
“Last spring, Gates…initiated rules that made it more difficult for a service member to be removed because of a third-party “outing”…The number of military discharges made due to the policy has since dropped sharply.”
First thing is to notice that it said made more difficult, not that it’s impossible completely. Second, it’s telling that the number of military discharges had dropped sharply. Before this RECENT policy change, a good number of discharges were made from third party outings. (or it’s colonel and Navy commander ranks or higher are less likely to discharge, since that was part of the policy change too–it could be that as well, but my point still stands.)
GT was not lying in this case, especially if he was thinking of all the stories of gay service members being dismissed not because they directly outed themselves. Sure, this year it’s a bit harder for this unfair dismissal to happen, but it really depends on the prejudices of who’s investigating. Plus, “don’t tell” is so murky. All someone would have to do is see a gay military person with his significant other, suspect something, and that’s enough “telling” for them to be dismissed. And notice how someone is able to ask and not get dismissed. DADT is just a really flawed policy. I hope the repeal passes in the senate.
Stories from people who were dismissed:
http://www.sldn.org/blog/c/letters
There’s a mixture of those who outed themselves, those who didn’t, and those somewhere inbetween.
fbjsr: I get what you’re saying about the don’t ask part. You would think people aren’t supposed to ask and use third party info to dismiss someone, however in practice this has happened all the time, except recently. If you look up the recent CNN article on the House repealing DADT, read the ending paragraphs were it states that:
“Last spring, Gates…initiated rules that made it more difficult for a service member to be removed because of a third-party “outing”…The number of military discharges made due to the policy has since dropped sharply.”
First thing is to notice that it said made more difficult, not that it’s impossible completely. Second, it’s telling that the number of military discharges had dropped sharply. Before this RECENT policy change, a good number of discharges were made from third party outings. (or it’s colonel and Navy commander ranks or higher are less likely to discharge, since that was part of the policy change too–it could be that as well, but my point still stands.)
GT was not lying in this case, especially if he was thinking of all the stories of gay service members being dismissed not because they directly outed themselves. Sure, this year it’s a bit harder for this unfair dismissal to happen, but it really depends on the prejudices of who’s investigating. Plus, “don’t tell” is so murky. All someone would have to do is see a gay military person with his significant other, suspect something, and that’s enough “telling” for them to be dismissed. And notice how someone is able to ask and not get dismissed. DADT is just a really flawed policy. I hope the repeal passes in the senate.
Stories from people who were dismissed: http://www.sldn.org/blog/c/letters
There’s a mixture of those who outed themselves, those who didn’t, and those somewhere inbetween.