More power to him!

It works in the Israeli army, I don't see why it is a problem for the American army.

The purpose of the army is to fight, not to be a bastion of traditional sexuality.

Sex is not an appropriate topic in the workplace, for gay or straight individuals. 

Don't ask, don't tell is replacing an implicit expectation in the workplace with an explicit one.

Ignorant argument.  I've been on plenty of ships...no one cares, dude.  You should get over it.

I don't know, I hear this argument about forcing us to do a lot of things but I have to question that word "forcing". I think we throw that word around a tab bit to much. No one can force me to accept anything, not even the Gov't. They can pass laws all they want, wont stop me from disagreeing or having a different opinion about something. I don't have issues with gay people, I have some who are friends on mine. They can be quite nice, but I always make sure to make it known that I will not tolerate being hit on if it's clear I am not gay.

I think if gays want to serve, that's fine. But they should learn respect and not do gay things around other people who are not such as staring at other mens privates while showering or when naked and not touching others in a manner which can lead to fights. Just be another person, nothing more, nothing less.

Some of my colleagues are straight. And they force me to accept it.

A daft argument, isn't it?

Which I agree with... except they should also have straight people not talking about sex in the workplace.  I really don't care too much about when people talk about sex except when they push it too far.  And my "too far" is probably a lot further afield than most people.  To be honest, I've been a lot more alarmed or offended when a straight man has talked about his sex life than anyone else despite gender or orientation.  

The intention there was probably to harrass me even though it wasn't directed at me specifically.  I was supposed to be intimidated.

And now, welcome to the murky waters of sexual harrassment.

I don't think a gay person will be less loyal to their country, otherwise they wouldn't become a part of the armed foces.  It isn't a good policy in my opinion.

The rule served its purpose. It allowed gay people in the military, and it allowed the military a period of adjustment. There are openly gay people in the military right now, and the military is doing just fine.

Conservatives who are afraid that Obama is getting ready to dismantle America might want to worry about real things instead of what people are putting in their orifices.

Humbordt said:

Very insightful comments.  I think this might be just the point I would have made, though I disagree slightly about 'There are openly gay people in the military right now'.  Unfortunately for those individuals, and perhaps for the military as a whole, any openly gay individual is subject to being discharged if the military is aware of their status.

Over time I have somewhat warmed to the idea of allowing openly gay individuals to serve.  Realistically, I don't care what anyone's sexual orientation is, provided it isn't being pushed upon me.  Meaning, if you are gay and are don't go around trumpeting your sexual adventures and conquests I don't care.  However, if you go around telling everyone how about what you did last night, how many times, and with who, then you are being incredibly annoying and you are disturbing my calm.  That said, I feel much the same way about heterosexual individuals that are promiscuous and who advertise their adventures repeatedly.  I don't need to know, and don't want to know what you've done and with who.  I don't share and don't want to hear from those that do.

Where I expect the military will wind up is in a similar place.  All service members will be expected to maintain the Don't Tell status but there will no longer be punishment for those that have their status made known.

Dude... your missing the point... ANY talk like that can be harrasment.... ANYTHING. If it does not have to do with the job itself you can march right into your HR department and file a claim ... its as simple as that. Stop trying to justify it by saying that "well they can do it" because this is NOT true.

I don't give a damn if a person is gay. In the military sex shouldn't be an issue but it often is unfortunately. I think it's part of a larger agenda by gay activists to make their life style seem as natural as apple pie and baseball. The question is is it natural? I guess populations would decrease if it were. So to many it will never be accepted. I think the current policy actually helps gays (well maybe not the guy that wants to wear his party dress on liberty) and helps them avoid the many pitfalls heterosexuals have now in the military. We have enough issues with cultural diversity, do we need sexual diversity too. IMO the world (especially the US) is to PC now.

i don't doubt anyones patriotism because they are gay but let me put it this way: When I joined the military at 17 I was eager and wanted to go, if they had told me I would get to see plenty of girls naked in the shower everyday (even though there was no guarantee that I'd get laid) I'd have said "where do I sign" if I could even join because every horny young man would be trying to get in. Communal showers in the military are going away, but still exist. So I ask both men and women this question would you like a stranger of the opposite sex to have the ability to watch you under these conditions? Now just because the feelings are opposite and the equipment is the same as yours would it make a difference? If your comfortable the first way, the second won't make a difference. The same could hold true for shy homosexuals too.

Oh BTW, and if you think same sex rape doesn't happen in the military, you;d be quite wrong. While not common man on woman violence (which is low but still unacceptable) I'm sure the figures would increase (date rapes and the like) because people won't have to worry about their careers while their trying to get their unsuspecting victim drunk. It happens to women, who often don't report the man, because they can't remember if they consented or not, or just want to forget the whole thing. Just a prediction on my part, based on human nature.

Oh believe me they do.  I was the only female in a squadron of over 500 men.  I can't tell you how many briefings we were forced to sit through explaining the implicit policy of keeping sexual conversation/topics/behavior out of the workplace.  And that was a long time before don't ask don't tell.

Don't ask don't tell in the military..applies as much to heterosexuals as it does to homos.

see thats the point... but the "gays" want to make sure its known they are gay.... even in the workplace it seems. Can you imagine the first sexual harrasment lawsuit filled from a man that was harrased by another man? the guy that filed would get Burned at the stake and labled as a "gay hater"

Like I said its a slippery slop and to be honest I really dont want to start down this path... give it some more time I say when things are a bit "looser" like 10 or so years and we can revisit it when this may be more accpetable...

"my god this place needs a spell checker!"