Should homosexuals be allowed to serve in the military?

[Hand of Nergal]

Technically they are, in the military of the US at least, because of our don't ask don't tell policy, but if they are known to be gay they are not allowed in as a rule.
My question is, should sexual preference bar individulas from serving in their country's armed forces?
I refer to an army of antiquity, the sacred band of Thebes, an elite military force composed entirely of homosexuals lovers. They were remarkably efficient in battle, fighting with particular prowess at the battle of Chaeronea against the Macedonian army with Philip and Alexander. They stood their ground to the last man while the rest of the Thebans fled, earning reputation and regard among Alexander, who respected them.

[Exarch]

Technically they are, in the military of the US at least, because of our don't ask don't tell policy, but if they are known to be gay they are not allowed in as a rule.
My question is, should sexual preference bar individulas from serving in their country's armed forces?
I refer to an army of antiquity, the sacred band of Thebes, an elite military force composed entirely of homosexuals lovers. They were remarkably efficient in battle, fighting with particular prowess at the battle of Chaeronea against the Macedonian army with Philip and Alexander. They stood their ground to the last man while the rest of the Thebans fled, earning reputation and regard among Alexander, who respected them.

but isnt there a difference between the hypermasculine greek homosexuals and the nancy boys who love to receive but never give (for their country)?

[jankren]

They can make the female-less barracks population happy.

[MaximiIian]

Yes, they should. There's no reason to keep large numbers of volunteers from enlisting and serving, protecting their country if they want to do so.

It should be noted that most military leaders want to dismantle all remaining barriers to gays and bisexuals serving in the military, because they realize that it's preventing a lot of potentially good soldiers from being where they are needed. It's the politicians who are twiddling their thumbs and ing around when they should be allowing LGBT servicemen.

PS) wouldn't this be more at home in, say, the political subforum (whichever one).

[hellheaven1987]

They should, why not??

They just need to behave properly, cause no trouble on others and that is fine - or, if they bother others, their comrads would deal them privately (that is the way how Foreign Legion deal homosexual).

[Entropy Judge]

My question is, should sexual preference bar individulas from serving in their country's armed forces?

Should physical or mental ability bar individuals from serving in their country's armed forces? And I'm not talking about brain-death or full-body paralysis, here - I'm referring to slightly below average intelligence (or far above average, for that matter), or minor crippling (major arthritis, artificial limbs, and the like).

[Hand of Nergal]

Firstly, barracks are not female free, the females just live in seperate rooms, but nothing keeps someone from walking from one room to another...
Secondly, the ancient Greeks might have had hypermasculine males, but so are some tough modern homosexuals. I know some 'homos' that could make you their .
Thirdly, I would not consider homosexuality as bad as mental retardation or being physically disabled, again, thats the kind of phobia and ignorance that keeps people from getting equal rights.

[hellheaven1987]

Secondly, the ancient Greeks might have had hypermasculine males, but so are some tough modern homosexuals. I know some 'homos' that could make you their

The thing is, if those homo make your life then make it ten times worse for them - Foreign Legion way to deal annoying homos.

By the way, that is same way how Foreign Legion deal thieves, arrogant members and whatever else - deal it privately.

[Xavier Dragnesi]

I don't see why there should be a problem for gay people to serve in the army. What deficiency do those men have apart from a desire for the same gender? It is said that the Theban Sacred Band which fought at the Battle of Chaeronea was made up of gay couples, with the concept that each member of the unit would try to look good in the eyes of his lover, so that his lover may love him even more. This was most likely not true, but the theory could be right to an extent, and even without it, there is nothing wrong with homosexuals serving in the army.

[dwringer]

Well the only problem seems that a lot of people who join the military are also quite homophobic, and would have major psychological issues with accepting homosexuals into their ranks. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, while a slap in the face to "equal rights" advocates, managed to largely circumvent that aspect of things. Perhaps one way to get the homophobes to realize their fears are irrational would be to let them serve alongside gays and see that there is no problem with it, but if they were unable to adjust or fully trust their brothers in arms they might cause lives to be lost.

[Exarch]

Well the only problem seems that a lot of people who join the military are also quite homophobic, and would have major psychological issues with accepting homosexuals into their ranks. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, while a slap in the face to "equal rights" advocates, managed to largely circumvent that aspect of things. Perhaps one way to get the homophobes to realize their fears are irrational would be to let them serve alongside gays and see that there is no problem with it, but if they were unable to adjust or fully trust their brothers in arms they might cause lives to be lost.

that's cuz men being men will always try and get with people (men or women) they like consciously or unconsciously.
i dont buy into the whole idealised 'professional relationship' thing. there'll always be sexual tension. that's how it is between men and women (i'm counting the gays as women in this case)

[Medicus]

I don't see why homosexuals should be disbarred from joining the military. But you have to ask; are there any homosexuals who want to join the military? Then again, with the way recruitment is going it may be the only way to go (unless they relax the "must be under the age of 80" rule).

no
for the simple reason that they'll try and rape POWs

[pannonian]

This isn't historical discussion, so I'm moving this from the Vestigia Vetustatis to the Thema Devia.

[hellheaven1987]

I think it should move to EE since it is more a moral issue.

[Exarch]

no, no, no
gays on the firing line will get too hot and flustered jsut being near other men and they wont be able to shoot straight;
oh and also, they'll be too busy raping POWs than actually killing them which is what they should be doing.

[Manco]

oh and also, they'll be too busy raping POWs than actually killing them which is what they should be doing.

They should be killing POW's?

There isn't a single reason why homosexuals shouldn't be able to serve. if some bigot's have problems with serving besides them, that's their problem. Even more I'd say such close-minded individuals should not be able to serve in the military themselves, since in my opinion they'll also be more prone to abusing POW's, using excessive force,...

[dwringer]

They should be killing POW's?

There isn't a single reason why homosexuals shouldn't be able to serve. if some bigot's have problems with serving besides them, that's their problem. Even more I'd say such close-minded individuals should not be able to serve in the military themselves, since in my opinion they'll also be more prone to abusing POW's, using excessive force,...

Yes but if you want to pick and choose who joins the military you have to stop sending them on corporate picnics like Iraq where they get killed to line a few people's pockets. Then we might have more volunteers and we'd have the OPTION of turning people down.

[Garbarsardar]

no, no, no
gays on the firing line will get too hot and flustered jsut being near other men and they wont be able to shoot straight;
oh and also, they'll be too busy raping POWs than actually killing them which is what they should be doing.

So do you really believe that the rapes that usually follow army action are mostly perpetrated by gay men?

Then why do they rape women?

[Claudius Gothicus]

Any man or any woman Gay or straight should be allowed to serve if they complete the mental and physical exam.

[Nutsack]

I think everybody who is physically and mentally able to fight in the U.S armed forces should be allowed to, and yes, homosexuals are mentally able to be soldiers. Just because they find men more sexually attractive than women doesn't mean that they are going to be a disturbance to a largely male-populated army.

edit: They are only going to be a disturbance to backward homophobes. But homophobes are the ones who have to suck it up, not anybody else.