Draka, I appreciate your input.
So, are you saying that men or women should be allowed to room together UNLESS they are in a sexual relationship? If they are in a sexual relationship, should they have to change their living arrangement? How is that monitored? Or should it even BE monitored? If single, unmarried people of the opposite sex are not allowed to quarter together, does that apply to gay couples who aren't married as well?
Um, I don't know if you read one of my earlier posts, but I shared quarters with 3 guys once. One Navy man and 2 Air Force men. There are different kinds of barracks set up so there are all kinds of possibilities. I also don't understand the idea that military members aren't allowed to have sexual relations with each other. There are rules against public displays of affection while in uniform or on duty in general, but off duty is off duty. Where are people getting this idea? In fact, the military provides on base housing, actual little houses in little neighborhoods, right on the bases. If two members in a relationship/married want to, they can apply for a house together.
I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe as it stands right now, people of different genders are not expected, under most circumstances, to live in quarters or the barracks together and share bathroom facilities. Does sexual orientation change any of this? Why or why not?
I already mentioned sharing quarters with men. We each had our own bathrooms though. As I said before, the only time I ever shared or had group showers and whatnot was in bootcamp.
Just because someone is a professional soldier, sailor, airman or marine, this doesn't mean that you can bunch up a lot of 20-something single people and think that sexuality and sexual behavior (and misbehavior) won't be a significant issue to deal with. I've never been active duty military, but my dad, my exhusband, and three of my kids are military - I've lived my whole life around the military as a military kid, wife, and mom, and I know about all the drama regarding fraternization that can be a part of life on a military installation.
I don't think anybody is expecting there not to be sexual relationships and issues in the military at all. But I don't understand the idea that homosexuals being out is going to suddenly change things. Honestly, I don't see the issue with mixed orientations being in close quarters because it's not as if people are out converting. That is to say, how many women do you see trying to bed known homosexual men? So why does anyone think that gay men are going to try to bed known straight men? Or lesbians bed straight women? Where's this idea of all this possible sexual harassment coming from? I think some people simply over-react to normal interest and advances really. If you think a guy is hot and interesting and you try to ask him out and turns out he's gay you drop the pursuit on the spot right? The gay guy probably hasn't taken any great offense to it and you won't bother anymore. Why should the reverse be any different? Showing interest isn't harassment, pursuit beyond being told "no" is. How many people bother pursuing once they learn that the object of the pursuit isn't even the corresponding orientation?
As I've said before, I support the rights of gays to serve in the military and be open about their sexual orientation. I applaud them for their choice of career, and thank them for their service to their country. But I'm not going to pretend that this shift in policy won't have implications that need to be thought through and addressed - to protect their rights and the rights of others.
Well, I'm not pretending anything, I just don't see the difference is all.