In a substantial portion of our United States of America, equality and inequality have come to have the same definition depending upon who is saying it to whom. But now, some of our military are 'declared' fine, strong, honorable, and decent Gay Men & Lesbian Women- every bit as equal to any other person serving to defend our country's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. This is their first Memorial Day as equals amongst equals- our finest amongst our finest. I honor all our military on this and every day that I have the right to speak up alone and in groups. Today we must note that we honor those who will have to be stronger- stronger until they are no longer the strangers, but the equal military siblings who are trusted to be there for their Armed Forces brothers and sisters as they will be trusted to be there for them.
I am in your debt.
I have contact almost daily with young male and female military members, including seeing and talking with them in gay bars, Naval Hospital, commissaries, exchanges, etc,, etc., They are very open about their sexual orientation. The do not say there is a lot of negative reaction - in fact the administrators of both services are very forthright about gays being a part, a real part, of the fighting forces.
I have found this more relaxed openness in both enlisted and officer personnel. I am so happy for this new generation, and feel so sad and disturbed about the many careers I saw ruined during my active duty years.
Remember, we have generations coming up that have not heard all of the homophobic clap-trap, or at least it has been and is still being tempered with a social maturity that our generations did not have. Gays are more accepted in schools, some have organizations in school where they can work on problems that arise.
I'm just saying, it is coming. The community I live in is part of the Bible-Belt; Hard-shell Baptist, Evangelical, etc. The area also has a Gay Memorial Day weekend (I think this was the 21st) drawing tens of thousands of gays from all over the country and even inter-nationally. I remember when it started, the local fish-wrapper (news paper) was full of letters to the editor and editorial comments against the gays. I did not read a single letter this year; and there were articles and pix of the mass of people on the East Beach, set aside for the big party. I don't recall there ever being an arrest, I could be wrong, but I believe not.
Didn't mean to run on. Just wanted to agree with your comments.
The same can be said I think about the change in the military policy on accepting people who are not hiding their sexual preferences any longer. I do not think that a change in policy establishes equality.
Discrimination against "people of color" did not establish inequality. Removing the barriers to separation of the races took a long time. It was President Truman who issued an order to integrate the ranks in the military with Negro soldiers. Throughout WWII units of black soldiers were often commanded by white officers. Ultimately it took an order to force the full integration of the races - schools, selection for promotion procedures, etc. It did not come easily.
Women were beneficiaries of citizenship in this country for as long as it has existed BUT they did not get the vote until 1920. Black people were citizens thanks to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution but they were effectively denied equal access to polling places and it still took a Civil Rights Movement for a society to change. According to some the fight continues... to achieve equality.
The military is often used as a means to implement social change that would not otherwise occur in society. So it was with Truman's order to integrate the ranks. But for true equality to be realized I think it will take a whole lot more than the mere change of a policy to see the day when, like the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed "free at last... free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!"
Thanks for a great post!
everysooften
west Michigan