The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
About 70 people gathered at Town Center on Saturday afternoon to call for an end to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy toward gay men and women in the military.
“The purpose of this rally is to send a very strong and clear message to President Barack Obama,” said Philip Deal, a gay rights activist from Virginia Beach who has started a group called GLBTLive.
“Every single day that he doesn’t act is another day that a gay person gets kicked out of the military for no other reason than being gay, and that really harms our national security.”
The rally was held at Town Center’s fountain plaza.
The federal law establishing the policy was passed in 1993. Since then, an estimated 13,000 gay service members have been kicked out of the military, according to advocacy groups.
Mike Brazell, 31, of Norfolk is gay and spent 10 years in the Navy. He was among speakers calling for Obama to act on his campaign promise to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“We’re kicking out critical service members in a time of war,” he said. “And these are proud men and women who do nothing more than serve their country.”
Deal said he created the new group to generate a spark in the gay rights movement. “In order for us to have our rights, it’s time for us to hit the streets and be angry again,” he said.
Deal said ahead of the rally that he expected at least 200 people. He said he plans to promote a broad range of gay rights issues, including benefits for gay couples.
People at the rally waved rainbow flags and held signs that said “Repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
Kimberley Green of Chesapeake, who went to the rally with friends, said service members should not have to live their lives in secret.
“They go out and do for us – they should be able to come home and it’s OK for them to be them,” she said.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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Land of the free (*Some restricions apply, see below)
joes58548,
Did Dr. Collins find a straight gene? Also, I'm curious to know why you think homosexuality is immoral. Is it your religion that tells you this. I'm pretty sure that it's the Bible that tells Republicans to create a government imposed, constitutional ban that discriminates against a class of American citizens (DOMA). Because we all know that Jesus taught intolerance and hatred toward all but straight white people, all others should be shunned, enslaved, or made less than equal by changing the constitution. Seperation of church and state...who needs that anyway? After all, we're Americans...didn't we come here to build mega churches, kill native americans and enlave foreigners to plow our fields? God bless America, land of the GOP.
Reply Land of Free, if we say so, see above
Yes, Dr. Collines did. Let me explain, it is called an X chromosome. Each female has a pair of these X chromosomes (XX). A male has an X and a Y chromosome pair. However, there was no Z?
I said Homosexuality was a behavioral choice. It is common knowledge and logical, that no society of people can sustain itself, survive, or procreate by making the choice of being homosexual, instead of heterosexual. It still takes a male and female.
For the record, I am neither Rep or Dem. I believe in the Constitution, which states that all people were created by God and have unalienable (absolute) rights given to them by Him, for peace and freedom. I pretty much think that men and women get these here(to the best of our ability), womens rights and civil rights were great! No one can be discriminated (now read and re-read carefully) by race (white,black, etc), religion (protestant, catholic, muslim, etc), or sex (male OR female, at least thats the only two types of humans as we know it.
Just for you: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html
a copy of the Bill of Rights attached to the Constitution.
Gays
Chromosomes determine if you are a male or female. Genes are contained within. There are z chromosomes, humans just don't have any.
You're right, no society can survive without heterosexuals who reproduce. But this is America, we have over 300,000,000 people here. Appx 90% are heterosexual. That is plenty to keep us going for a while. Don't you think so?
Being homosexual isn't a "wrong behavioral choice" anymore than being heterosexual is a correct behavioral choice. Do you ever remember having to choose if you were going to be straight? Does anyone reading this remember choosing who they are attracted to? You don't get to pick who you are attracted to.
I have had the Bill of Rights posted on my wall for years. I am very familiar with it. And, I too, believe in the Constitution. THE WAY IT WAS!!!! Why AMEND the constitution to prevent people who love each other from getting married? You should ammend the Constitution to protect peoples rights not to strip them of their rights. Who are we protecting by stripping rights away from gay people? Does me getting married to my partner endanger your marriage? Straight people in this country take marriage for grant
See, here is the problem
See, here is the problem with your argument: homosexual people do not receive special priviledges due to their choices from the Constitution. If it provided protection for individual freedoms, such as (let's say) beastiality (because I say I was born that way), or my neighbors love little boys or little girls and that is their choice (NAMBLA, oh, that's right, that's immoral).
See, all of sudden morality is subjective in society and relative and not objective. We then have a society which believes as long as the voice is loud and agrees, then its right.Stealing is stealing! homosexuality is homosexuality.
Can we change the murder laws because we believe murder is ok. Well unfortunately this country was NOT formed as a democracy. This country is a republic (I pledge of...to the republic), not a democracy, for that very reason the framers of the Constitution knew this.
....and yes, you having a union with and proclaiming it is 'marriage' is demeaning (de-morlaizing) to youth and society, trying to explain to little billy why he has 2 Dads (no such thing) or 2 Moms (the same, one can only have one Mom and a homosexual partner)is illogical. Therefore, homosexuals do not get special
Subjective immorality
Joe, one error with your argument is that you assume gays are asking for “special” abilities. Please explain to us how it is “special” when a group of people is asking for the “same” abilities, such as marriage or the ability to serve one’s nation. And FYI: the old bestiality and NAMBLA comments are trite and overused, as well as ignoring the entire concept of consent. And, seriously, what does procreation have to do with the discussion about gays in the military? Are we to ban gays from the military only because they don’t procreate (and that’s only your assumption that they don’t)? If that’s the case, then I assume you would also require medical proof from all straight military that they are not infertile. And a female’s military career would obviously end at the onset of menopause. And what about those straight members that choose to not have children? Should they also be banned? In fact, maybe we could limit the military to *only* mothers and fathers? Would that solve your “morality” dilemma?
Service
When I was in the service (USN) and was asked point blaank, while naked for an entrance exam in the MEPS station, if I was a homosexual, I thought nothing about it. That was in 1989. I thought it was right to ask, I wouldn't have wanted someone serving next to me, as my "bunkmate" whom decided to pursue wrong "behavioral" choices. As we now know and Dr. Collins, the new NIH Admin (Obama just appoints) stated that there are no "gay genes" in the human body.
Therefore, serving the military and country is a choice. If someone "chooses" immoral behavior, then he/she does not hold up to the high standards of the UCMJ (Uniform Code Military Justice). I say change the law the way it was! Back prior to Clinton. Ask, if you tell, your out! If you lie, you're out too.
a couple of points
Obama promised leadership on this issue. Where is it?
Although many proud service members have been discharged under DADT, many cowards, gay and straight, have used DADT to avoid the duty they swore to perform.
the way i see it...
i don't care if you're gay, straight, girl, guy, black, white, or whatever... if you're doing your job and you're doing it well, then i say you're welcome in whatever profession you choose.
i also find it amusing when homophobic people think all gay people are checking them out. trust me... they aren't... so get over your phobia and let people live. i would rather have my child be gay than in an abusive straight relationship just because society says it's the "right thing".
Denis Leary said it best.
Denis Leary said it best. Basically who cares if you like to have sex with men, woman, sheep, or even watermelons.
Here's your gun now GO GO GO!!!
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Rally at Townecenter
As a Retired member of the US Navy (who happens to be gay)I fully support ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy.
What is sad is that I know the real issue here is Homophobia...
I served proudly for 20 years and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. The price I paid was to give up 20 years of my life for a country that I love despite the fact that it does not love me for who I am.
Many people think that being gay is all about sex. It is not. It is about who you are attracted to and relate to and who you Love...the same way "straight" people may be attracted to another person and fall in love. My feeling is that in a perfect world there should be no need to differentiate between gay and straight if people just behave as professionals on the job whether gay or straight. The military has a Uniform Code of Military Justice which should apply equally accross the board whether GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender)or straight. I know...this world is far from perfect. But thanks to brave folks like Rev Martin Luther King Jr. those who are oppressed can take heart and know that God places Saints omongest us to do the hard work that needs to be done in order to bring abou