Gay Members of the Armed Forces--Passion on Both Sides

This issue is being touted as a “hot button” issue when voters have the opportunity to express themselves at the polls in November.

Of course there are the pros and the cons. The Republicans, namely John McCain, does not see the repeal as a good measure.

He obviously feels that a gay man or woman has no business being in the armed services. Almost comically, his biggest opponent on the other side is Lady Gaga who has been tirelessly standing and marching with these men and women. She has the opportunity to be heard and is making it her business to be heard on this subject.

Gaga obviously feels the ban is unfair to the men and women who want to serve in the armed forces and are being denied the opportunity just because of their sexual preference.

This is one of those topics where no one wins. People who are passionate on one side or the other are not budging an inch to try and at least be more understanding to the opposed. But common sense should prevail.

General J. Amos told a senate panel on Tuesday that now is really not the time for a repeal. He is afraid that it will shake up troop morale and be a distraction to the service members already stationed in the Middle East.

He even surmised that since President Obama chose to lead the Marine Corps he does not want the ban lifted, either.

The facts are that since the law went into effect in 1993, 13,000 men and women have been discharged from the armed services because of homosexuality—a small army.

The law has the potential to be exploited if and when another service member wants to “out” his co-service member only to be malicious. The American people, according to a February 2010 poll by the Pew Research Center, voted 61 percent are in favor allowing gays to serve openly and only 27 percent opposed.

It remains to be seen how the vote will turn out. Such a passionate issue on both sides always promises to be media sensational, and for those who care, they will be waiting with bated breath for the outcome to either leap in the air or sit down and cry.