West Point is an Equal Opportunity Employer, but not for students. WTF?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

Okay, so I'm pretty active in working against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I firmly believe the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (which would allow gay soldiers to serve openly) needs to be passed. I was arrested at West Point for simply step foot on their campus in protest of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," even though the other US military academies allowed Soulforce members on campus.

So I was pretty shocked when I saw this job listing for the theatre at West Point. I mean, I think it's absolutely great that sexual orientation is covered in the employees non-discrimation policy, but don't they realize the irony that their cadets can be taught and work alongside a homosexual in the theatre, but they can't serve with an open homosexual. That cadets are subjected to witch hunts for simply being percieved as gay. Yet another example of our government's absurdity.

Lighting/Tech Theatre Specialist - West Point, NY, US
Category Technical
Description Full-Time Position at West Point, NY. Eisenhower Hall Theatre at West Point, New York (a 4400-seat auditorium, located one hour north of New York City, see www.ikehall.com ) seeks a Technical Theater Specialist (Lighting Emphasis) for a full-time position to instruct college-age volunteers and provide in-house hands-on support for visiting professional touring shows. Teach and demonstrate lighting (emphasized) and theatre technologies, theatre arts and stagecrafts to college students (USMA cadets, non-theater majors) in their free time (often afternoons, evenings and weekends). Personally provide physically-active tech support (lighting emphasis) for frequent visiting professional shows (Broadway touring, symphonies, celebrities, concerts, etc.) and other prominent events. Enthusiastically encourage and develop cadet (amateur) participation in the performing arts, while providing first-class professional technical services to visiting professionals. Full-time U.S. Government employee with full benefits, starting at the GS-7 pay grade. For details and to apply see: Vacancy Announcement Number: NEBR06439048D. Closing Date: August 16, 2006. Position: Theater Specialist (Stage Tech/Lighting Emphasis), GS-1054-7, at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ or http://cpol.army.mil/. Applicants will receive appropriate consideration without regard to non-merit factors such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation except where specifically authorized by law, age, politics or disability which do not relate to successful performance of the duties of this position. For More Info Contact: George Plank, Manager, Stage Services, EISENHOWER HALL THEATRE, 655 Pitcher Road, USMA West Point, NY 10591. Tel. [phone]. Fax [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. An Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Start Date 8/31/2006
Job End Date
Union Information Full Time Permanent Govt Employee
Salary GS-7 Pay Grade

[cgrindley]

1. Did you read it carefully?

"Applicants will receive appropriate consideration without regard to non-merit factors such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation except where specifically authorized by law, age, politics or disability which do not relate to successful performance of the duties of this position."

I don't think this means what you think it means. Notice the word "appropriate" and the clause "except where specifically authorized by law" and "which do not relate to the successful performance"...

It seems like this weakly and strangely written non-discrimination policy could easily be used to discriminate against just about anyone they don't like.

This isn't surprising at all.

Instead of campaigning to allow gays to openly serve in the military, you should be campaigning to have Westpoint shut down and the armed forces reorganized into a peacekeeping only force.

[xchrom]

2. that's how i read it as well.

while i thinks it's possible maybe even probable that gay folk are hired under this -- i think the military is reserving the final word here.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. It is theatre, they do narrow their job pool by not hiring gay people.

While I can see gay employees being silently discriminated against, I do find the conflict within the policies amusing.

[xchrom]

5. nor should you.

gay folk have to be about the business of wide ranging anti-discrimination.

that's what the hair-on-fire folk know at the root of their being -- and it terrifies them.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. Even if they were a peacekeeping only force, there would still be a use

for military academies. They do produce officers and their graduates do tend to go onto very good jobs. The armed forces don't need to be reorganized into a peacekeeping force, it would happen naturally without a warmongering president.

Don't worry, I protest the war and the president, as well. I just believe that gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, which our allied nations (except for Turkey) already allow.

[Ian David]

6. Why would you defend a country that won't even let you get married? n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. It's still a form of discrimination and as such I'm against it.

Personally, I wouldn't join the military, but I don't believe the government should discriminate against an otherwise fine soldier, because of their sexual orientation.

Also, just from the taxpayers point of view, it should be repealed. Over 10,000 troops have been discharged under it, over 80 of which have been Arabic linguists, doctors, et cetera. Monetarily, it's cost $364 million.

The policy is also dangerous to both the livelihood and lives of our soldiers. They have to live in constant fear of being kicked out of the military. Also, while it is illegal for soldiers to harass other soldiers, gay or perceieved gay troops have no real way of reporting the harassment, because it will most likely set off an investigation into their sexual orientation. All the NATO (except Turkey) nations allow openly gay soldiers to serve. Our soldiers already serve alongside gay allied troops. Just because there is still no gay marriage, doesn't mean that we shouldn't want equal rights in the military.