FINALLY! JUSTICE!

[bradygirl_12]

FINALLY the lawmakers in Washington did the right thing and repealed the odious 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' seventeen years after implementing this shameful law. Naturally, it'll take almost a year for things to get going (funny how when you grant people THE RIGHTS THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE, it takes the speed of molasses, but whatever), but after the way gay rights activists kept knocking their heads against the wall for almost two decades, it must be REALLY nice to finally stop.

Naturally, the critics claim All Sorts Of Horrible Things will happen (just as they did about racial integration in the armed forces back in the late '40s), but it seems to me that unless a gay or lesbian soldier is an idiot, they aren't going to be flaunting the fact that they're homosexual in people's faces or making passes, right? Homophobia is alive and well in the military and it's still dangerous to be gay. Any problems I see in the future will be from the homophobes, not the homosexuals.

Comments

[crooked-halo.livejournal.com]

This made me very very happy when I saw the headline tonight. It's way overdue and honestly I wonder what group is going to be discriminated against for next generation, because we never seem to quite get the 'equality for everyone' thing right, do we?

I just hope they don't find some way to reverse this. And my fingers are crossed for gay marriage next!

[bradygirl_12]

I fist-pumped when I saw the news here on-line. :)

After Communism fell, gays became the new scapegoats for EVERYTHING. Certain people and philosophies need 'The Other' to validate their own pathetic lives.

They'll try hard to reverse this, so people must be vigilant! And, yes, that loathesome Defense Of Marriage Act is next!

[crooked-halo.livejournal.com]

To be fair, any policy that might actually help the greater good as opposed to private interests is still written off as 'socialism'. I actually live in Wisconsin, so upper Midwest, but sadly still very affected by the bible belt mentality and there was actually a protest organized to protest our 'socialist' president shortly after Obama was elected. *sigh* I'm just glad to live in a suburb, which means being in an urban area, there is more variety of political opinion and religious beliefs, even if the majority of people around me still identify themselves as Christian and still are very closed-minded in regards to the rights of groups of people that clash with their supposed beliefs.

I honestly just hope this is the start of a true turn-around for gay rights. We've got a long way to go on this one, but I think we've come a long way too. There is more acceptance now than there was, but there is so much more that is needed and deserved. It breaks my heart to see friends who are gay and in love and can't legally declare their commitment to each other, or can't safely go to certain places without fear of ridicule or violence.

But for today, I will celebrate this victory and hope that it is a sign of good things to come :)

[bradygirl_12]

Hopefully gay rights can truly march forward with this victory, with gay marriage not far behind. :)

It's just stupid, this bigotry. Ironic, too. Gays are fighting to get married and to join the military, stuff that the Religious Right LOVES, yet when it's gays and lesbians, they're appalled! Prejudice knows no sense. *shakes head*

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Hooray for justice!!! \O/ I've been flailing like crazy since the news hit. :D

Of course it'll take a while for things to really change, but man, this was definitely the biggest hurdle.

And yeah, it's dangerous to be anything other than straight and *Christian* in the military, still. It's bizarre and backwards, but at least changes are being made, if slowly.

[bradygirl_12]

*grins*

With ya, hon!

We need the first steps, all right. Loved the way Doonesbury was hammering this rule in the current strip.

I know there are Wiccan chaplains in the military, but I'm sure it's still iffy to reveal oneself as a practitioner. :(

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

I actually used to have several friends that were Air Force Pagans (including one that survived 9/11 in the Pentagon), and they were more-or-less out about it. I was surprised they didn't take too much flack for it, but then, we're in the DC area, so folks around here are a little more PC about things. I've heard horror stories about non-Christians stationed in the mid-west and Texas, though. O_O Harassment, abuse, it's pretty ugly.

[bradygirl_12]

Yeah, the Bible Belt is a scary place. It's not always sunshine 'n' roses up here, either, but we are pretty liberal (big news there, eh?). ;)

The Catholic Church still holds a lot of power but it has diminished since the sex scandals. Fundie churchs are around, but probably a miniscule presence compared to the Bible Belt.

What wears me out is that we as a species have to keep learning the same lessons over and over: that people are just as American as the straight, white, Christian if they're gay, African-American, Pagan, etc.

I guess that's why superhero worlds intrigue me. They have their share of problems, too, but for the most part the JLA, JSA, and Avengers manage to work together, and they're just about as unconventional as you can get! I'm sure there are fundies in their world that complain about the 'freaks' who get so much attention and praise.

[nrrrdy-grrrl.livejournal.com]

Amazing!

[bradygirl_12]

Truly! :)

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

Awesome news - dancing a happy dance! You are so right about this is years overdue, but at least it's finally happened. And sadly it's also true that people seem to have to have someone or some group to fear as "the other".

[bradygirl_12]

For a minute, I just blinked at the words, then this big grin spread across my face! :)

It'll be interesting to see if they stick to their guns and not turtle when the going gets rough.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm glad. I too found it amazing. Especially as how the heck did the American Senate pass something? I've been watching The Daily Show. ;) And now there might be sanity on the September 11 responders health bill. I hope so. By the way our politicians of both main parties are just as stupid on gays and lesbians marrying. And the majority of the country are for it!

Angeloz

[bradygirl_12]

Politicians never cease to amaze, do they?

As for the responders health bill, it seems to me that it's the typical attitude of praising people for risking their lives but when it comes time to help them financially, forget it!

[issuesgrrrl.livejournal.com]

Hoo-Rah! ;^)

[bradygirl_12]

With ya! :)