Add to favorites Examiner Bio

Homophobic politics and policy

---

Related Articles

• Gay marriage tirade
• Don't Ask, Don't Tell | Gays in the military
  
• Homophobia and discrimination in the workplace
• Immigration Equality | Uniting American Families Act

 

We are in two wars. Everyone realizes there are already gays in the military. No one is debating that. The military has fired one person per day on average for being gay. Now the Defense Department wants to explore an interim solution based on ‘flexibility,’ wherein some gays can serve openly depending on how they were ‘outed?’ Individuals who have the courage to be honest will be discharged. Individuals who attempt to stay in the closet and are exposed due to third party disclosure would be protected. I guess that means the military doesn’t want the ‘out and proud’ queers. 

 

We are sending military personnel halfway around the world, where they work together and live together on 12-18 month tours of duty, separated from family and friends. They get to know one another very well. When they feel homesick, are having a bad day or lose a comrade, they turn to one another for support. Bonds forged between soldiers often last for a lifetime, because they have seen things and done things civilians wouldn’t understand. When the military tells gays to remain silent, then they are forcing them to be duplicitous with their comrades or to remain aloof, impersonal and distant. Either strategy alienates gay soldiers. It’s wrong. If we, as a nation, truly support our troops, then we should support all of our troops irrespective of gender, race, age, religion or sexual orientation.

 

77 members of the House of Representatives wrote to the President several weeks ago imploring the President to sign an executive order to end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Gates’ statement indicates that the White House decided to shift the responsibility to the Department of Defense to avoid taking a stance on the issue.

 

I recognize that the administration is trying to appease the gay community while avoiding a political battle, but this proposed ‘flexibility’ is not the way. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is a discriminatory policy that has no place in a country that lauds equality and human rights. It doesn’t matter if homosexuality bothers some people. There are plenty of sexist and racist individuals in the military, but we allow minorities and women to serve. Last year almost 1400 women reported being assaulted and raped by their fellow soldiers. Are we going to quit allowing women to enlist, because some males can’t serve with women without raping them? I don’t understand using homophobia as a rationalization to keep an idiotic policy in place. 

 

 

Washington needs to wake up. Public sentiment is way ahead of political action when it comes to gay issues. If the politicians can’t figure that out, then they need to be replaced with people who are more in touch with modern America. I expect religious zealots to spew moral condemnation, but do I really need to put up with it from elected officials?

 

During a June 19^th radio debate, Sen. John Eichelberger’s (R-PA) stated that gay marriage is dysfunctional and would lead to polygamy and younger people getting married.  I was not surprised. Sadly, I have become accustomed to Republicans expressing these sentiments despite having homosexuals in their constituencies. Unfortunately a large number of politicians do not represent people in their districts. They represent themselves and whatever agenda they think will get them re-elected. The sad truth of American politics is that we elect predominantly wealthy people with law degrees. When you have that many lawyers in Washington, no one should be surprised that it is virtually impossible to get anything done.

 

When Sen. Daylin Leach (D-PA) asked Senator Eichelberger how gays should be treated, Eichelberger responded, “They’re not being punished.  We’re allowing them to exist and do what every American can do. We’re just not rewarding them with any special designation.” 

 

Nice. Mr. Eichelberger is allowing me to exist. How sweet, generous and thoughtful of him to grant me the right to continue living. I wasn’t aware that senators were in the business of determining which citizens should be allowed to exist. What is the plan if he changes his mind on that? It is not particularly comforting to realize that there are American politicians, voting on policies that dictate the direction of this nation, who are philosophically similar to Ahmadinejad when it comes to gay issues. Am I supposed to be thankful that Eichelberger acknowledges, with obvious distaste, that gay people exist? 

 

I have news for Mr. Eichelberger. Gays do NOT get to do what every other American gets to do. We are not allowed to marry one another. We have to lie to join the military. God forbid we fall in love with someone from another country, because we can’t marry them and they probably won’t be able to get a visa. If we are open about our sexual identity at work, then we risk harassment or termination. There is currently no federal law prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. Kids are killing themselves due to bullying in school based on real or perceived sexual orientation. Does any of this sound equal? Of course it doesn’t, because it is not equal. It isn’t even separate but equal. 

 

Gay activists confronted the senator demanding an apology. After making them wait for 2 hours, Eichelberger said his comments were taken out of context and refused to apologize. He abruptly turned his back on them and retreated into the Senate chambers.  He has told reporters that he refuses to answer any more questions about his disparaging and hateful comments. His email address is john@senatoreichelberger.com if you would like to let him know how you feel about his willingness to allow gays to exist.

 

Keystone Progress is launching a campaign in Eichelberger's district to inform his constituents of his statements as well as his refusal to apologize.  They are looking for contributions to run ads in Altoona.  Please visit their website to make a donation.

 

 

The outrage that homosexuality inspires is shocking. In certain social settings discussions of anything regarding homosexuality is comparable to tossing a verbal Molotov cocktail into the conversation. The reaction is vehement, disparaging and hateful. I often wonder if these people realize that they sound crazy. It isn’t like anyone is suggesting that the gay haters should be gay. No one is suggesting that homophobes hang out with gay people. People have the right to carry all the hate in their hearts that they want as long as they don’t interfere in my life. When they dictate my relationships and my career choices I object.

 

When someone uses God to encourage hatred and to legitimize discrimination towards another group of people, they certainly aren’t marketing Christianity as a religion of tolerance, love or compassion. When elected political officials say that gays can do what every other American can do, you have to wonder if they read any of the legislation that they vote on. Personally I am sick of the pious rhetoric, ignorant statements and ineffective political representation. There are over 304 million people in this country. If 7% is an accurate assessment of the homosexual population, then there are 21,280,000 of us. That doesn’t include bisexuals. That doesn’t include all of the heterosexuals that know, love and support us.  It may take time, but we will achieve equal rights under the law.

 

I don’t expect homophobia to go away overnight. I am not naïve. Racism is still alive and flourishing in American society, but the percentage of people afflicted with that ailment has declined steadily over the last 50 years. I am hoping the same will be true of homophobia 50 years from now. It is already headed that way. Attitudes towards gay issues are far more tolerant and supportive amongst people under 30. Given time these people will age and, hopefully, teach their children to respect and appreciate diversity.