Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and Moving Forward

Question for CNN/YouTube Democratic Debate, July, 2007 (aired on Anderson Cooper's aftershow): Alexander Nicholson. Columbia, South Carolina. Former Army human intelligence collector and Arabic speaker, Alexander Nicholson, asks Democratic candidates how they would go about getting this law repealed.***www.servicemembersunited.org***

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• gay
• military
• don't
• ask
• tell
• army
• intellignece
• arabic

[abbanwato]

I don't know if you're still checking these comments, but I want to commend you for standing up and being heard about this issue. I can't think of any compelling logic behind the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy except fear, and even that's a stretch because policymakers don't serve; what could they be afraid of personally? Anyway, I thank you for your service and for being willing to take on 'the establishment,' as it were, about this absurd policy, which, by the way, imperils American security.

[alexm071589]

this policy should have been repealed years ago! it is so true that the military is losing essential translators all because they are gay. and straight men and women can serve together without a problem? america is one of the only countries that doesn't allow open gays to serve in the military.

o and i also agree with the below poster on "a man loves a woman and if the man likes men then so be it if people deny gay marriage and such its the same as denying normal marriage." Marriage = <3 + <3

[kitkat53079]

So proud of you Alexander, stand up for what is right!

[kitkat53079]

So proud of you Alexander! Stand up for what is right!

[jusitke07]

@3dartistguy There, now you know how it feels with Gays in the military with DADT in place. Karma sucks doesn't it? Don't worry repeal will be inevitable and you will not be made fun of anymore for being supposedly Gay.

[3dartistguy]

Because I didn't want to cause trouble. We didn't have a chief in our shop and we didn't want one. If I had complained, they would have either removed me or put a chief down in the print shop with us, and everyone would have blamed me, or my LPO would have gone to mass and gotten kicked out and again, everyone would have blamed me...I kept my mouth shut and I still got screwed in the end.

[jusitke07]

@3dartistguy Well why didn't you turn them in? Why didn't you follow the UCMJ?

[3dartistguy]

I don't know who because they TORTURED and CRUCIFED me when I was in a couple of years ago for believing that I was gay even though I was not. You saw my video, those are three typical sailors who oppose repeal.

[jusitke07]

@3dartistguy Well, I know of many Naval personnel that are okay with serving with openly Homosexual Veterans.

[3dartistguy]

Maybe in the Navy its different, beause my LPO, Leading Petty Officer accused me of being gay, ruined my reputation on my ship, and when my shipmates heard from him they believed me to gay, they didn't want to be my friend any more. and the more I protested not being gay, the more they believed i was gay, even though i am not. Again, I still have old shipmates who won't associate with me on facebook becuase they believe me to be gay, so dispite your misconceptions, it still is a big deal.

[jusitke07]

@3dartistguy Many in the military from where I was stationed at knew who were the ones who are Homosexuals & Bisexuals. But it was no big deal. Especially this one girl who is so butch, there was no mistaking that one. So tell me, if you saw this same girl, do you honestly think she's no gay?

[3dartistguy]

I have no idea, i know they were wrong about me, assuming I was gay when Im not. Im just glad that even if there were homosexuals in the military when I was in that I didn't know about it because I would have felt very uncomfortable knowing there might be someone who was attracted to me who was the same sex I am dressing and undressing and showering with in the same berthings. That is how most servicemembers feel, like it or not.