Here’s my observation on the topic. I’m lucky to be in two uniformed branches – the Australian Army and Navy. It’s a rare privilege.
I have met gays in the army and the navy although most of them are lesbians. Gay males are rare in the Australian Services but we do have them. Lesbian soldiers and sailors seem to be fully accepted and they have plenty of female friends (straight and gay) inside their Service. I have never seen or had reported to me any incidents or examples of prejudice, discrimination, or harassment towards lesbian soldiers, sailors, recruits or officers.
Gay males however do cop some heat but not from their superiors or the Defence system which actually protects their rights. They do find themselves on the outer with other males in the Services or are made fun of - usually behind their backs. They have few friends inside the Service. The stronger willed ones stay in the Service but many eventually leave. "Masculine" gay males are treated a lot better than "effeminate" gay males. The latter tend not be survive training but thats because they can't handle the rigors of training. There is no harassment of any of them as such, but what tends to happen is that their equals or peers in the platoon or ship shun them. On social occasions like parties and BBQ’s they are not invited. Conversations with them are kept to polite short exchanges. If a male soldier, sailor, or recruit is thought to be gay or is public about his homosexuality it does receive an adverse reaction among his fellow platoon / squad members. Again, his superiors don’t seem to be bothered. The negative reaction comes mostly from the gay member’s peers.
In the cases I know of, the homosexual soldier/sailor can do his/her job just as well as anybody. Their physical and mental skills are up to the tasks that their category or Corps demand. The hopeless one’s don’t get through training just like the straight one’s don’t get through if they can't hack the pace.
I tend to support the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, mostly in relation to gay males not so much in relation to lesbians. Maybe it’s an imperfect policy. I strongly advise gay males not to flaunt their homosexuality even if they are in an environment where straight guys are loud about their attraction to females or boast of their sexual conquests. If the gay male did, it does affect morale and invites a negative reaction in most young males.
I'm not saying gay males should be banned from the Armed Services but it is my observation that their known presence in a platoon or ship does have a negative affect. Interestingly, from my observations, lesbians are more accepted in the Armed Services. Other people and in other countries may have different observations or experiences, but these have been mine.
I have met gays in the army and the navy although most of them are lesbians. Gay males are rare in the Australian Services but we do have them. Lesbian soldiers and sailors seem to be fully accepted and they have plenty of female friends (straight and gay) inside their Service. I have never seen or had reported to me any incidents or examples of prejudice, discrimination, or harassment towards lesbian soldiers, sailors, recruits or officers.
Gay males however do cop some heat but not from their superiors or the Defence system which actually protects their rights. They do find themselves on the outer with other males in the Services or are made fun of - usually behind their backs. They have few friends inside the Service. The stronger willed ones stay in the Service but many eventually leave. "Masculine" gay males are treated a lot better than "effeminate" gay males. The latter tend not be survive training but thats because they can't handle the rigors of training. There is no harassment of any of them as such, but what tends to happen is that their equals or peers in the platoon or ship shun them. On social occasions like parties and BBQ’s they are not invited. Conversations with them are kept to polite short exchanges. If a male soldier, sailor, or recruit is thought to be gay or is public about his homosexuality it does receive an adverse reaction among his fellow platoon / squad members. Again, his superiors don’t seem to be bothered. The negative reaction comes mostly from the gay member’s peers.
In the cases I know of, the homosexual soldier/sailor can do his/her job just as well as anybody. Their physical and mental skills are up to the tasks that their category or Corps demand. The hopeless one’s don’t get through training just like the straight one’s don’t get through if they can't hack the pace.
I tend to support the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, mostly in relation to gay males not so much in relation to lesbians. Maybe it’s an imperfect policy. I strongly advise gay males not to flaunt their homosexuality even if they are in an environment where straight guys are loud about their attraction to females or boast of their sexual conquests. If the gay male did, it does affect morale and invites a negative reaction in most young males.
I'm not saying gay males should be banned from the Armed Services but it is my observation that their known presence in a platoon or ship does have a negative affect. Interestingly, from my observations, lesbians are more accepted in the Armed Services. Other people and in other countries may have different observations or experiences, but these have been mine.
