Pentagon alters homosexuality guidelines

[Tock]

Pentagon alters homosexuality guidelines

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/.../military_gays

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
Thu Nov 16, 5:50 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Pentagon guidelines that classified homosexuality as a mental disorder now put it among a list of conditions or "circumstances" that range from bed-wetting to fear of flying.

The new rules are related to the military's retirement practices. The change does not affect the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits officials from inquiring about the sex lives of service members and requires discharges of those who openly acknowledge being gay.

The revision came in response to criticism this year when it was discovered that the guidelines listed homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Mental health professionals said Thursday they were not satisfied by the change.

"We appreciate your good-faith effort to address our concern that the document was not medically accurate," James H. Scully, head of the American Psychiatric Association, wrote David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "But we remain concerned because we believe that the revised document lacks the clarity necessary to resolve the issue."

The guidelines outline retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities. The rules include sections that describes other specific conditions, circumstances and defects that also could lead to retirement, but are not physical disabilities.

Among the conditions are stammering or stuttering, dyslexia, sleepwalking, motion sickness, obesity, insect venom allergies and homosexuality.

"More than 30 years after the mental health community declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder, it is disappointing that the Pentagon still continues to mischaracterize it as a 'defect,' said Rep. Marty Meehan (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said "homosexuality should not have been characterized as a mental disorder. A clarification has been issued."

The psychiatric association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973. Questions about the Pentagon's guidelines were raised in June by a research institute at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended Sept. 30.

[Tock]

Ya, the military is trying to characterize homosexuality as some sort of defect. Truth is, they can't name even one thing that a gay soldier can't do that a straight one can (other than bop a wench). So, the best they can do is call it a "condition" similar to bedwetting . . .
Sheesh . . .

[Logan13]

Pentagon alters homosexuality guidelines

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/.../military_gays


WASHINGTON - Pentagon guidelines that classified homosexuality as a mental disorder now put it among a list of conditions or "circumstances" that range from bed-wetting to fear of flying.

So, the Pentagon is classifying homosexuality as a phobia? Does that mean that you are afraid of pussy Tock? This is too funny. Truth is stranger than fiction....... BTW, I do not see homosexuality this way. I would classify it as a fetish, but not a mental disorder.

[Logan13]

Ya, the military is trying to characterize homosexuality as some sort of defect. Truth is, they can't name even one thing that a gay soldier can't do that a straight one can (other than bop a wench). So, the best they can do is call it a "condition" similar to bedwetting . . .
Sheesh . . .

I do not think it has anything to do with what a gay soldier can accomplish. It is categorized because it may interfere with the majority of troops, no one is going to make a soldier accept homosexuality and no one should. A former boss of mine, who was outwardly gay had a solution to this. Create the "gay Army" and arm these soldiers with javelins, kind of like the gay black guy in Revenge of the Nerds. At least he could joke about it. This behavior, like it or not, interferes with the cohesiveness of our troops. The troops have enough to worry about, they do not need this distraction. You should want our soldiers to be all that they can be, because they are out there fighting for you to have the "right" to be gay. If the Muslims were to take over, you would be in the death chambers..........

[Phreak101]

As Chris Rock says, "So what if they're gay, let em fight, cause I aint fightin!"

[Tock]

So, the Pentagon is classifying homosexuality as a phobia?

Not a phobia, but a defect.

They'll have a tough time defending that sort of categorization. It will be amusing to watch them try . . .

[alphaman]

Not a phobia, but a defect.

They'll have a tough time defending that sort of categorization. It will be amusing to watch them try . . .

We're all defective. Some choose not to admit it and give in to sexual immorality.

[Tock]

We're all defective. Some choose not to admit it and give in to sexual immorality.

Well, guys in the military are nothing if not sexually promiscuous. There's all sort of heterosexual adultery and pre-marital sex going on. Would you consider that "sexual immorality," or would you consider that "nobody's business," and not the sort of thing that would keep someone from serving in the military?

[Logan13]

We're all defective. Some choose not to admit it and give in to sexual immorality.

LOL!

[mcpeepants]

As Chris Rock says, "So what if they're gay, let em fight, cause I aint fightin!"

[Tock]

Here's a CNN commentator's take on the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecB5C4TEFKE

[alphaman]

Well, guys in the military are nothing if not sexually promiscuous. There's all sort of heterosexual adultery and pre-marital sex going on. Would you consider that "sexual immorality," or would you consider that "nobody's business," and not the sort of thing that would keep someone from serving in the military?

All of the above qualifies. I'm surprised you wouldn't assume I think so. As far as whether that should keep someone out of the military, I'd say no. The only problem would be showering, imo.


Edit: I think most military-type guys would be the type of guys that would give a gay guy a hard time -- I'm sure that presents a problem from time to time. I don't think distractions like that would add to overall efficiency -- which is probably important in the military.

[Carlos_E]

All of the above qualifies. I'm surprised you wouldn't assume I think so. As far as whether that should keep someone out of the military, I'd say no. The only problem would be showering, imo.


Edit: I think most military-type guys would be the type of guys that would give a gay guy a hard time -- I'm sure that presents a problem from time to time. I don't think distractions like that would add to overall efficiency -- which is probably important in the military.

I'm going to bump an old thread.

My bf is in the military and has served in combat. I asked him how others felt about gays serving and they told him "when I'm getting shot at and someone is covering me or saving my life the last thing on my mind is whether or not they're gay. I could careless."

[perfectbeast2001]

Good point Carlos. I would happily have anyone on my team as long as they were stand up guys. Dont care what there sexual preference is. I was actually discriminated againt at a gay venue when I worked there (head doorman). The gay promoter did not like me as I was straight. I put forward the exact same argument. When the club is being smashed up by drunken idiots does my sexuality really matter that much, as long as I can do my job!

[Carlos_E]

Good point Carlos. I would happily have anyone on my team as long as they were stand up guys. Dont care what there sexual preference is. I was actually discriminated againt at a gay venue when I worked there (head doorman). The gay promoter did not like me as I was straight. I put forward the exact same argument. When the club is being smashed up by drunken idiots does my sexuality really matter that much, as long as I can do my job!

Exactly! It doesn't.

[Snrf]

I know an openly gay guy in the British army, nobody gives a rats-ass. Yeah he takes a little ribbing over it but thats just the culture, my dad used to get made fun of for having red hair in the army, thats the way the army works, I don't get why Americans get so crazy over it..

Same thing goes for your prisons, I think Americans are all a lil fruity anyway, first chance you guys get you're all knobbing each other.

Maybe your attitude towards gays derives from that and your desire to keep it hidden...

read this article http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...30/ai_20799514

"The men who tested nonhomophobic were, for the most part, left cold by the gay porn. But the men in the homophobic group were turned-on." Maybe thats why you all get so crazy about it, you're in denial

[Carlos_E]

The men who tested nonhomophobic were, for the most part, left cold by the gay porn. But the men in the homophobic group were turned-on." Maybe thats why you all get so crazy about it, you're in denial

Usually the biggest homophobes are the biggest homosexuals.