Sorry We Asked, Sorry You Told

[n2doc]

By Dana Milbank
Thursday, July 24, 2008; Page A03
Don't ask, don't tell. And, whatever you do, don't ask Elaine Donnelly to tell you what she thinks about gays in the military.

The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee made just such a miscalculation yesterday. Holding the first hearing in 15 years on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, lawmakers invited a quartet of veterans to testify on the subject and also extended an invitation to Donnelly, who has been working for years to protect our fighting forces from the malign influence of women.

Donnelly treated the panel to an extraordinary exhibition of rage. She warned of "transgenders in the military." She warned that lesbians would take pictures of people in the shower. She spoke ominously of gays spreading "HIV positivity" through the ranks.



Elaine Donnelly, a crusader against gays in the military, torpedoes her own ship. (By Melina Mara -- The Washington Post)

more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/23/AR2008072303642.html?hpid=topnews

Snip:
Shays, his voice rising with Yankee indignation, continued to lecture Donnelly: "I think the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is unpatriotic. I think it's counterproductive. In fact, I think it is absolutely cruel."

Donnelly said something about her respect for the service of gay veterans. "How do you respect their service?" Shays demanded. "You want them out."

Donnelly seemed to have unified the lawmakers -- against her. The next questioner was Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), a retired Navy vice admiral. "I couldn't ask it better than you did," he told Shays.

[SacredCow]

1. "taking pictures of people in the shower"

I really hate that stereotype. I go to they gym on a regular basis, and that thought has never crossed my mind. Hell, I don't even look- I'm there to work out, not cruise. But I guess it's a case of many being judged by the actions of e few.

[terrya]

2. That's the whole reason behind DADT

It's straight guys being deathly afraid of having gay guys looking at them in the shower.

That's the mindset behind DADT. That's why gay men and lesbians can't serve openly in the military. Ridiculous, isn't it?

[SacredCow]

3. I guarantee you that many straight guys are looking at each other, too....

... If for no other reason to compare relative "size."

Americans as a whole are just WAAAAAAY to uptight about nudity. Throw in homosexuality, and it becomes outright panic.

[bigscott]

7. the ONLY reason i go to the gym

is to cruise straight guys and see if I can get them to convert and come over to my team. I make it very obvious what i am there for. I pass out leaflets outlining the "Gay Agenda" and i even keep new toaster-ovens in the truck to give out once they sign the papers.

oh yeah, JUST IN CASE

:sarcasm:

[SacredCow]

8. Your conversion ratio must be excellent!

I do know a couple of guys that shamelessly ogle and peek in the gym locker rooms and showers- I'm waiting for their gym to ban them (there have been complaints, so I hear, but it's a different gym than mine so I don't know for sure).

[bigscott]

10. actually

and this is WAY off topic, a long time ago i reported a guy for being inappropriate. Checking out another guys physique in one thing - THAT I can deal with.

Peace

[SacredCow]

11. Agreed....

Unless the gym has isolated shower stalls and such, I just don't see how someone can expect that he or she won't be looked at. It reminds me of my arguments with my sister on long car trips... "MOM!!!! He's LOOKING at me!!!" Of course, we were 3 and 6 at the time... I guess that some of these folks haven't matured much beyond that....

[LeftCoast]

4. Thank you Elaine Donnelly!

You've shown our Representatives exactly the kind of irrational hate and fear that we're up against.

[Zuiderelle]

5. The only women who've ever paraded naked in front of me for the purposes of wanting me to look...

have been STRAIGHT women. Without exception. Why do some straight women think that all gay women want them? It's absurd, and offensive.

Donnelly is absolutely horrid. The Anita Bryant of the 21st Century.

:eyes:

[indigo32]

6. so so true

well I dunno bout the 'paraded themselves in front of me naked part... but straight women as a whole are damn curious :P

[SacredCow]

9. I had always wondered if that (false) dynamic was prevalent in women's locker rooms, too...

Most straight men think that gay men look at a locker room scenario as a smorgasbord... Personally, I find that notion bizzare...