US generals, admiral come out of the closet

[Tinoire]

By John Files
Washington
December 11, 2003

Three retired US military officers - two generals and an admiral - who had been among the most senior officers to criticise the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for homosexuals in the military, have revealed that they are gay.

The three - army Brigadier-Generals Keith Kerr and Virgil Richard, and Rear-Admiral Alan Steinman of the Coast Guard - said the policy had been ineffective and undermined the military's core values - truth, honour, dignity, respect and integrity.

They said they had been forced to lie to their friends, family and colleagues to serve their country. In doing so, they said, they had to evade and deceive others about a natural part of their identity.

The officers said they were the first of their rank to come out publicly, and that they hoped that others would follow. They are the highest-ranking US military officers to acknowledge that they are gay since a National Guard colonel was discharged in 1992 for being a lesbian. She was later reinstated.

Ten years after the Clinton administration instituted the policy of "don't ask, don't tell", it remains contentious and has fallen far short of President Bill Clinton's pledge to allow gays to serve openly.

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http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1070732280625_2003/12/10/11US_GAY_GI,0.jpg

[Dookus]

1. Wow....

Where'd you find this? I hadn't heard it.

[La_Serpiente]

2. From the New York Times

Three Denounce 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: December 10, 2003

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two brigadier generals and a rear admiral -- all retired -- disclosed that they are gay and denounced the U.S. military's ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy in interviews with The New York Times.

In a story published by the newspaper Wednesday, Army Brig. Gens. Keith Kerr and Virgil Richard and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Alan Steinman said the policy effectively excludes gays from military service and forced them to deceive friends and family.

Military Officials Speak Out Against Don't Ask Don't Tell

[Tinoire]

4. www.antiwar.com

I comb through it every night. It's on today's Latest News page: http://www.antiwar.com/latest.html

It's pretty much what it says though, an anti-war site so you won't find many stories like this.


Good for these Generals. It's time more people spoke up!

Military Intelligence and the Medical Corps are crawling have been with gays since I first joined. I can't believe it's taken so long but it's high time!

[JackSwift]

3. Hee hee a Rear Admiral!

Oh, I am so immature!

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JackSwift]

8. removed lacks context

removed lacks context.

[Paschall]

6. Wow

Incredible. This just threw a monkey wrench into the GOPs plans to use gay marriage as a wedge issue. Wonder how Clark will react?

[lcordero]

7. Look at some history

Baron Von Steuben was the original author of the army manual for Drills & Ceremonies(FM22-5) and the very first Inspector General.
Baron Von Steuben helped Washington win the Revolutionary War.

http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/VONSTUB.HTM

...and yes, he was gay.

[JackSwift]

9. Most ancient Greek warriors were bi or gay

including the 327 that held off Xerxes million man army at Thermopolae for three days, enabling western civilzation to be born. They inflicted over 80,000 casualties before being overcome from the rear. (Oh damn, I did it again!)

[Paul Hood]

10. Good, I wish every gay person

could come out of the closet. Then a lot of repugs who think they don't know any gay people would have to rethink what they stand for.

[JM]

11. So how soon now until...

...Sphinctorum demands Stalinist tactics and they purge the military?

Later,
JM