Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 22, 1993 TAG: 9302220248
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GOING STRAIGHT TO THE ISSUE
THERE IS no shortage of comments in the news today, either through print, video or radio, on the subject of homosexuals serving in the military. What I fail to find is much coverage on the main cause of concern that we who oppose such action should be giving. Whether this lack of coverage is caused by news outlets ignoring this position or by a lack of presentation by us is not in my power to determine.Pamela Patton's Feb. 7 commentary, "Suddenly men worry about sexual harassment," prompts this reply.
I spent 30 years in our military, serving during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, so I have some qualification for my thoughts on the subject. I never heard comments from enlisted soldiers with whom I served deriding the quality of service of a gay, nor the lack of commitment to job performance or even to the possibility that their bravery was in question.
What I did hear was that the men objected to being required to share quarters, toilets and shower facilities with persons who considered other males as possible sex partners.
What would be the outcry from the female sector if the military was to remove the separation of the sexes in barracks? How many women soldiers would serve in a military that did not allow a separation of the sexes in the bedroom and bath?
Those concurring with the gay demand for equality should realize that being a homosexual is being of a different sex, for practical purposes.
Perhaps if our new leaders are going to insist that the openly gay person is to be allowed to serve in the military, then there should be the same protection provided to the straight soldier that was given to the female soldier. That is, to provide him with separate billeting.
For those who insist that since there are gay persons (although not openly) serving now, they should be allowed to serve openly, I offer this comment: If a female didn't know that her shower mate was a male, she wouldn't object to his presence either. BUCK PALMER HUDDLESTON