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Gays In The Military—Part 4 (final)  By Dr. Mary Ann Humphrey-Keever

DADT must be dissolved.  After my forced resignation from the military, I realized that I certainly wasn't the first to be unceremoniously kicked out and chronicled the first oral history of 42 gays and lesbians in the military from WWII to the present, in the book My Country, My Right to Serve.  It is a cornerstone of information on the damages caused to gay and lesbian soldiers of all services, simply for being gay.  This book is presently in the hands of President Obama, Secretary of Defense Gates, the Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mullen.  I hope it makes a difference in the evidence gathering they feel should occur.

As a founding member of Veterans for Human Rights, and the ranking officer for the Color Guard every June in the Portland, Oregon Gay Pride parade for the past 12 years, I proudly don my uniform and carry the United States American Flag.  This is a duty that I perform with extreme pride and respect.  I also offer my expertise in the form of appearances and speeches to various organizations and functions throughout the year.   As a veteran, I believe it is my duty to set a good example, and help where I can.  Being open and out is one of the best ways to help change societies' fear and attitude about someone who is gay.   

We must stop wasting tax payers' money by kicking out personnel simply because of their sexual orientation.  While it may take time to adjust, there won't be an onslaught of openly gay people who will want to join the military anyway.  The fears regarding gays in the military are unfounded as proven over and over again, particularly with the Rand Report. 

Truman's bold move was highly opposed, but in the final analysis, it worked.  Nothing is perfect, and this change won't be either, but it will set the military on a path of true equality and respect that can be a beacon of light for the rest of the country and the world.   It is not an experiment, but evolving, as the changes we see in society are continually amazing us, day by day.  The military will survive and be stronger for it. 

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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Gays In The Military—Part Three   By Dr. Mary Ann Humphrey-Keever

During the Senate Hearings conducted before DADT was put in place, they seemed to focus only on military personnel that couldn't stand serving next to a gay solider or sailor, there was surprisingly little conversation with those who could care less.  Thankfully, the same senators that conducted those hearings are either out of the Senate or are literally no longer with us!  Senator Strom Thurman, now deceased, could only focus on drilling openly gay service members called in for evidence as to why they "never sought counseling for their gay problem."  Over and over!!  The Hearings turned into a circus, unfortunately, with DADT the alternative result.  It did nothing but insure gay and lesbian military would still be forced to lead double lives.

There are many commanding officers in the military today that simply ignore the DADT.  While it is the legal law surrounding gays in the military, these commanders and higher NCO's know the value of a good soldier and would rather live and let live.  There are many gays in the military that are out, and are still surprisingly doing their assigned jobs.   Morale, cohesiveness, completion of the mission is not being compromised.  The arguments, not unlike the "shower" argument, are outdated and non-existent.  It is time for change; it is time to step into the new century of equality and acceptance of qualified, dedicated members of the military that are gay!

While it won't be perfect, it brings up another issue regarding the UCMJ.  Sodomy is also addressed in this document.  Sodomy was the main issue used to remove gay soldiers from the military in the past. Interestingly enough, it was never used against, married men and women and straight men and women who were dating.  And we all know that sodomy is also a sexual activity of  straights!  That was not a way to carry out a regulation, when commanders only targeted gays and not straights for the same issue.

Rules are made to control a particular population.  I don't believe there should be any special rules set aside for one group or another, particularly in the military.  Everyone follows the same rules, which is what makes opportunity equal for the individuals involved.  Break the rule, get the same punishment, not separate but equal.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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Gays In The Military—Part Two   By Dr. Mary Ann Humphrey-Keever

Our United States community is still is not completely equal to all its citizens.  Human nature is what it is.  Short and sweet.  However, it is vastly different than it was in the 1940's.  It will continue to change in the 2000's.

Many militaries throughout the world accept gay individuals into their ranks.  They live closely together and are still able to function well.  I believe it is unfair of the nay sayers to tell us that our military is somehow different and therefore one can't compare such situations.  It is just not so, success is success.  We as a country, need to step up to the changes happening in the gay community that basically ignited in New York City, in 1969.   Gay individuals will not be forced back into any closet again!

The old shower issue, usually brought up by straight males, continues to raise its ugly head every time someone mentions having gays in the military, serving openly!  Interestingly, it is seldom an issue brought forth by females serving in the military.  It would seem that females are so used to be ogled by their male counterparts, that perhaps they say it is just about time the shoe were on the other foot!

Somehow, straight men fixate on the fact that certainly if there were an openly gay man in the shower with them, that they must find them sexually attractive and it would just be unbearable!  Surprisingly, as a gay woman, I certainly don't find every female I look at as someone desired sexually, and for these worried straight male soldiers, it is the same thing for the gay man.  Not every male is looked at as a sexual conquest.  Get over it!!

The arguments are old and tired.  The old corps is changing to one that is more open, understanding, and accepting.  Again, overall, it is bringing in members that have lived around gays and lesbians, and can see these individuals should be offered the same opportunity to serve their country, if they so choose. 

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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Gays In the Military—Part One   By Dr. Mary Ann Humphrey-Keever

I appreciated the opportunity to speak as a special guest this morning on the OPB program, Think Out Loud.   After writing this entire comment back, I realized that I could only post 2500 words!  So this will be cut into sections and posted as Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 J

As a female, vastly affected by the still in place, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), I was forced to resign my commission in 1987, because a fellow faculty member at Portland Community College had an ax to grind.  As a US Marine Corps officer, he was well-aware of the UCMJ and knew just what to do!

Back then, witch hunts were still going on in all of the militaries and I was but one victim of that process.  After two years of going into drills every month, and doing my job as the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer, I had to sadly give up 9 years of my Reserve career.  The man who turned me in received his 20-year letter from the US Marine Corps Reserve and to this day enjoys that extra retirement income that I was denied, simply because I was gay!

The sad thing is that while the military tries to ignore the fact that gays are and always have been in the military, the higher commanders, still try to make excuses as to why the DADT policy should stay in place.  Some of those very admirals and generals pushing for this are also gay! 

Historically, President Truman, knowing he needed more troops and less segregation, integrated the military in the 1940's.   The hue and cry from the white troops about "not ever going to shower with some nigger" went on and on.  While the military is a microcausium of society in general, his plan was forced to work through this hate and discrimination. 

A Black solider could have privileges in the military at that time, and yet be spat upon when actually wearing his uniform back in his own hometown.  The military survived and adjusted and further set examples of what working together as equals can bring.  Viet Nam saw thousands of Black soldiers die for their country.  I won't say that there still isn't total harmony in the military between Blacks and Whites, but as evidenced by the likes of General Colin Powell, something worked correctly.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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