OMAHA, Nebraska
Jene Newsome's honorable discharge under "don't ask, don't tell" came only after police officers saw a marriage certificate in her home and told the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Jene Newsome played by the rules as an Air Force sergeant: She never told anyone in the military she was a lesbian.
The 28-year-old's honorable discharge under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy came only after police officers in Rapid City, South Dakota, saw a marriage certificate from Iowa -- one of the handful of U.S. states that recoganize same-sex marriage -- in Newsome's home and told the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against the western South Dakota police department, claiming the officers violated her privacy when they informed the military about her sexual orientation. The case also highlights concerns over the ability of third parties to "out" service members, especially as the Pentagon has started reviewing the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law.
The law does not explicitly prohibit gays or lesbians from serving in the military but requires them to serve in silence. If they acknowledge their sexual orientation or engage in a homosexual act, they can be expelled.
"I played by 'don't ask, don't tell,"' Newsome told The Associated Press by telephone.
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32 comments:
When will this country stop discriminating? This is just wrong.
Shouldn't have gays in the military anyway !
If your son or daughter were in the military would you advise them to refuse to be saved by a fellow soldier if that soldier were gay? Really, I cannot believe that this is still an issue!!! I was raised believing that everyone should be held to the same standards and if that is the case then I dont think that straight miltary persons should be able to talk about their wives/husbands or children. Adam & Eve / Adam & Steve? Who Cares!!!
TDT
It was shameful when this nation had African American soldiers fighting for freedom for Americans, Europeans, Jews, and Asians around the globe yet they were still denied their rights when they came home. The same holds true for gays in the military today.
Discriminating? What are you talking about anon 10:09? Being gay is a sin and should not be tolerated.
It wouldn't be an issue if gays were banned from the military !
If I were a terrorist or a hostile country, I would form an army of gays amnd lesbians. I would assume the US Military would run away in fear. Thats seems to be the message
11:01, you've got to be kidding me. If they are out there fighting for our country, what difference does it make who they have sex with. It doesn't matter whether you are homosexual or heterosexual...your sex life belongs in the privacy of your own bedroom.
11:37.....gay lifestyles are not forced on you...your trying to force being straight on them...whats the difference. you know what your right is if someone is trying to force something on you...walk the heck away and ignore it....wah wah wah baby
and 11:40 love the sinner not the sin! Exactly right!
I have to say, I am pretty surprised by the comments here! Three cheers for those who are against discrimination. I'd like to thank all of our soldiers, gay and straight, for fighting for this country. We are fighting AGAINST intolerant regimes, not on behalf of them.
Instead expecting everyone to embrace you why don't try and get treated ? There are programs designed to cure homosexuality !
Gays in the military are not wanted needed or supported by the troops doing the real heavy lifting . They only weaken our fighting force but I'm sure that is the plan of the far left progressives they hate the military any way so why not join up and destroy it from the inside out like they are doing to the rest of the country !!!
Couldn't have said it better myself, 3:04. Cheers back at ya
serving the military is not right !
from a military member i agree and disagree.when you have a homosexual in a squad deployed somewhere it causes tension if you know that he or she is.for one having to share quarters or showering with the individual cant be very uncomfertable.do i believe they should serve sure as long as they meet the requirements but i believe thier orientation should be kept to themselves and if they make another service member feel uncomfortable or offended they should be re-assigned or discharged.afterall i have to keep my political affilation to myself and cant talk about that or i get in trouble!
aHHHHH 3:28, I don't think General Petraus is "far left". Get your sorry, bigoted head out of the Eastern Shore sand.
3:14
Get real...homosexuality is NOT a disease. Get your head out of the sand.
Sorry I'm from L.A. and have witnessed personally the homosexual attack on the church so don't act like this isn't a carefully measured tactic to infiltrate the military! So pull your hillbilly head out the eastern shore sand or where ever it might be !
4:39 Homosexuality is not a disease your right it's a perversion ! But there are programs that have claimed success in rehabilitating wayward people I suggest you look into it .
3:16 Those "programs" are a failure and a money making scam.
I'm loving the support!!!! I totally agree with other peoples comments on here! I see alot of straight people complaining but not joining the military!!!! I tried to join but could due to medical issues but would had LOVED to serve my country with honor! And I honestly believe I as well as other gays/lesbians were born gay! TRUST me if I could live my life straight and be what society would accept I would but I WOULD BE LIVING A LIE! I WOULDN'T BE HAPPY AT ALL. I can't help who I love and neither did this solider! I hope she fights and wins! She's a solider tho so why wouldn't she!!!! lol
5:20 Apparently you haven't heard the testimonials you can be cured . I wish you luck . And to Gay and Proud your disgusting but I get a good laugh ...
By definition homosexual desire is sexual narcissism or sexual self-deception. There is either (1) a conscious recognition that one desires in another what one already is and has as a sexual being (anatomy, physiology, sex-based traits) or (2) a self-delusion of sorts in which the sexual same is perceived as some kind of sexual other. As one ancient text puts it, “seeing themselves in one another they were ashamed neither of what they were doing nor of what they were having done to them” (Pseudo-Lucian, Affairs of the Heart 20). The modern word “homosexual”—from the Greek homoios, “like” or “same”—underscores this self-evident desire for the essential sexual self shared in common with one’s partner.
I am not talking merely about what some prohomosex advocates derisively refer to as an “obsession with plumbing.” I am talking about a fundamental recognition of something holistic, an essential maleness and an essential femaleness. Why else would 99% of all persons in the United States (97% heterosexual, 2% homosexual) limit their selection of mates to persons of a particular sex? Why else do so many “gays” claim exclusive attraction for persons of the same sex rather than, say, gender nonconforming persons of the other sex? All this indicates a basic societal admission that there is an essential and holistic maleness and femaleness that transcend mere social constructs.
In this connection, too, it is interesting that homosexual men, even those who bear effeminate traits, usually desire very “masculine” men as their sex partners. Why? Undoubtedly many desire what they see as lacking in themselves: a strong masculine quality. Such a desire is really a form of self-delusion. They are already men, already masculine. They are masculine by virtue of their sex, not by virtue of possessing a social construct of masculinity that may or may not reflect true masculinity. They need not seek completion in a sexual same. Rather, they must come to terms with their essential masculinity.
We all must live by a set of morals, standards. Some of the first were, homosexuality is an abomination. Like the military commenter said about sharing quarters and showers, when your in the field on a mission and Darth becomes distracted because the guy in the fox hole with him thinks he has a cute butt....you both become distracted and die, possible costing others their lives also. This is why the military dosent want it known if you have these tendencies. Darth, God allows everyone to make their own choices, he did not create gay people. What happens when the next wave of people claim it's their right to marry their dog, horse or any other farm animal? Would those of you who support gay marriage accept it as ok, acceptable, would it degrade the value of your marriage? How about when pedophiles come forward in masses and demand their right to do....sleep with and marry who they want? This is why we must stand strong on morals, ethics and Gods laws and advice.
5:49 I'm glad I can put a smile on your face!!!!!!!! Now I'll pray for you!
Dude, I know what you're talkin 'bout.... I'm a lesbian trapped in a mans body!
6:49 Cool and I will you there is help if your willing to try good luck !
As an SPC in the US Army (I'm guessing not everyone posting here serves) I'll just add that i don't think any discrimination is right. I also think the police officers involved went a bit too far, perhaps out of personal bias. BUT - given that we do have a law prohibiting not only "telling" but also performing homosexual acts - including marrying someone of the same sex. It may not be right - it may not be fair, but you know it going in... and we have a volunteer Army. The law is actually written more like: "don't ask, don't tell, don't act on it no matter what". Those are the rules, and we need a military where people obey their general orders, special orders and all other commands.
I am not gay, and don't really support the idea of gay marriage, however, to each their own. If it is not affecting me, I really don't care. If they are productive members of society, fantastic. I have more resentment for the thugs and people out their milking my tax dollars. I do see a problem with the police officers leaking the information. Of course there are two sides to every story, but I think, you will definetely see a succesful lawsuit from the ACLU (It is hard to say that because I truly believe the ACLU is one of the worst things to happen to this country).
It's not that they want to serve as much as it's part of the progressive strategy to divide and conquer !
What about men in the military who think that a fellow female soldiers butt is cute. Should there be a separate policy for that? I just think the everyone should be treated the same. And i really dont believe that there will be an influx of people who demand the right to marry a horse or become pedophiles.
The people who are damning people to hell for being gay are probably going to to be some of the first ones in line to get in themselves. I love it when church people stand up for this laughable policy. What better way to get more people to 'come to christ' than to show how biased and full of bigotry and hatred a lot of christians really are.
This is coming from a straight white chrsitian.
Your hatred of the church is your issue ! People are tired of having immoral behavior forced on them and their children in every aspect of life . Serving in the military is not a right the progressive socialist are making the military a social issue all to weaken it ! And for the record I don't think men and women should serve side by side in the military either ! I'm sure you will make hay out of that also you feel the need to attack anyone who disagrees with your agenda !
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