Gay soldier outed himself to superiors with "graphic proof", they told him to get back to work

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A gay soldier says he disclosed his sexuality to his superiors, even offering graphic proof, and was neither discharged nor reprimanded, despite the military’s "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality.

...

Manzella, a medic who served in Iraq for a year, currently serves as medical liaison for the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Kuwait, where he says he is "out" to his entire chain of command, including a three-star general. After leaving Iraq, he started receiving anonymous emails warning him about his openness that suggested he was being watched, so he went to his commander to head off an investigation he felt was coming. "I didn’t know how else to do it," he tells Stahl, acknowledging that he initiated an investigation of himself by violating the policy. "I felt more comfortable being the one to say, 'This is what is real,'" Manzella says.

He then says his commander reported him, as he was obliged to do, and then "I had to go see my battalion commander, who read me my rights," he says. He turned over pictures of him and his boyfriend, including video of a passionate kiss, to aid the investigation. But to his surprise, "I was told to go back to work. There was no evidence of homosexuality," says Manzella. "'You’re not gay,'" he says his superiors told him. This response confused him and, he says, the closest a superior officer came to addressing his sexuality was to say "I don't care if you're gay or not."

...

"They don’t care….these are our peers…the 'Will and Grace' generation," says Brian Fricke, referring to the popular television program featuring a gay character. Fricke was a Marine Corps avionics technician who served in Iraq. "They grew up with it in the media….They see gay people as people…Americans," says Fricke. "They don't see gay people as people with a disability…."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/13/...in3615278.shtml

[no name 1]

[mawilson 2,133]

We don't care if you're gay. Now go and defuse some road bombs.

[trueimage 0]

I didn't work for Klinger either...............................

[Otto 83]

Classic Section 8 Defense...

[almaty 19]

they need troops..."suxing a ####### in the foxhole son. will not get you out of iraq these days"

[eric&gen 0]

Gays in the military is this why its taking so long in IRAQ are they ging for a blow at the local Iraq gay bar?!!! lol.

[eric&gen 0]

Gays in the military is this why its taking so long in IRAQ are they ging for a blow at the local Iraq gay bar?!!! lol.

[mRx 16]

With how stretched the military is, it doesn't surprise me.

[mawilson 2,133]

With how stretched the military is, it doesn't surprise me.

[mRx 16]

With how stretched the military is, it doesn't surprise me.

Ha, good catch man.

[Peikko 1,575]

I didn't get the feeling that this guy was trying to get out of service, but rather it's an illustration that the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is a bunch of poop. If the military hierarchy can live with the idea of homosexuality in the service, why not just drop the 'no gays' policy?

Klinger wasn't trying to pretend to be homosexual, just a transvestite. I thought people knew the difference these days...

[Kevin and 10]

Who cares what his superiors think. I would care more about what the guy next to him in the foxhole thinks. If they have some homophobia then it would be a problem.

[mRx 16]

@PH

Neither did I, unless the article was worded specifically to evade the assumption that he is trying to shirk out of enlistment.

Homosexuality is incompatible with military standards. As with any policy, enforcement rests at the discretion of the commander. The soldier in question is a medic. I'm unaware of the current manning levels in that field, but I would assume it is critical. My guess, he is an outstanding troop, and an exception has been made. Ultimately, the mission comes first.

But now that the media has gobbled this up, he hasn't a chance in Hell to stay in.

Edited December 13, 2007 by Matt85

[almaty 19]

@PH

Neither did I, unless the article was worded specifically to evade the assumption that he is trying to shirk out of enlistment.

Homosexuality is incompatible with military standards. As with any policy, enforcement rests at the discretion of the commander. The soldier in question is a medic. I'm unaware of the current manning levels in that field, but I would assume it is critical. My guess, he is an outstanding troop, and an exception has been made. Ultimately, the mission comes first.

But now that the media has gobbled this up, he hasn't a chance in Hell to stay in.

i agree brother matt..he is gone