Good we figured out the DADT thing in the military. When are we gonna deal with the straight issue?

[LynneSin]

Because there is still a serious SERIOUS issue for many of our women serving in the military especially those serving where there is a military action. Because for 17 years if you were GLBT; even if all you ever did was just admit it and nothing else, you were discharged but if you were straight and you made sexual harassment or even raped a woman, your issues were swept under a rug and the woman was made to suffer.

Overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military women are suffering thru dehydration and UTI because they are afraid that if they drink too much water at night they'll be in a position that a man could approach them and rape them. Better to suffer in your barracks all night than to get attacked by someone in your own military who will rape you.

I am glad we finally put to rest the DADT issue but we do need a serious re-evaluation of our Sexual Harassment policy in the military. It doesn't matter what your sexual orientation is - if someone makes unsolicited sexual advancements especially in the form of sexual harassment or rape, THOSE are the people that should be dealt with!

[niyad]

1. k and r--"tailhook", anyone? the newest report on sexual abuse at the academies?

as I used to tell whiny little straights worried about gays in the military--"if you don't like them, YOU get out"

[stray cat]

2. Or have sex with you when you are asleep?

[LynneSin]

3. If I'm asleep and I didn't ask for it - it's not sex

It's rape.

[polmaven]

4. I have often speculated

that many of the men who are so afraid of having gay men in the "foxholes" with them are so because they know, in the backs of their minds, how they may behave if there were women in the foxholes with them. Because they are likely to be watching her ass, rather than paying attention to the combat situation, they fantasize that they are so fantastically sexy that gay men will not be able to resist.

I will add here....next step for the military - END THE RESTRICTION ON WOMEN IN COMBAT!!!

[crikkett]

15. Um, what?

You haven't been in or around the military lately have you?

[polmaven]

16. Elaborate, please?

:shrug:

[crikkett]

18. It seems like your idea of military life is vastly different than my experience.

It makes me wonder if you've ever been there, and if so, how long ago.

On edit: you did say that you were 'speculating'... so, women are allowed to work in 'support' of combat, which generally means they end up in it, sometimes. Since we've spent the last decade at war. Women are allowed to work on combat ships and fly combat airplanes as well.

And, nobody thinks about sex when bullets fly. Maybe afterwards.
I would never ever ever advise a woman to join up today: not just because of the combat thing; they're so desperate for people that limitations on criminal backgrounds have been lifted. So you risk your fresh-faced 17 year old bunking with a criminal element... and don't forget that our mercenaries over in Iraq and Afghanistan are immune from prosecution...

[polmaven]

19. My post was speculation

only, and only about the comments that have been made regarding the DADT repeal. Some of the opponents have said things like : They wouldn't feel safe in "foxholes" because they don't want someone looking at their asses rather than watching what is happening on the battle field. For people to say something that idiotic makes me ask...well, if a woman is in the foxhole, is that what they would be doing?

I consider these idiots to be bigoted sexists or narcissist (their asses are just so irresistible) or maybe a little of both.

I mean really - What else would make them say such idiotic things?

[ecstatic]

17. I'll let active/ retired military women figure that one out

As I'm not in the military (I'm guessing neither are you), I don't want to presume what's best. I personally wouldn't want to be in combat if I were in the military!

[AsahinaKimi]

5. K&R

Totally.

[NNN0LHI]

6. From Friday: Air Force Academy accounts for half of reported sex assaults at service academies

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/2896022-418/reported-academy-sexual-assaults-force.html

Dec 17, 2010 05:35PM

Almost half of the 41 reported sexual assaults at service academies the recent academic year occurred at the Air Force Academy, according to an annual survey from the Defense Department.

But survey results about unwanted sexual contact and harassment suggest the reports account for fewer than 10 percent of incidents that actually occurred, the authors concluded.

The Air Force Academy reported 20 sexual assaults during the 2009-10 academic year, more than double the previous year’s total of nine. West Point reported 10, one more than last year; the Naval Academy reported 11, three more than last year.

[niyad]

7. and who knows how many have gone unreported, given the culture of the academies and the military in

general.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. And the Air Force Academy is controlled by Christian fundies.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. I've heard about this...

A former co-worker of mine has a very bright son who was all ready to go there. He spent one weekend there, by way of an introduction, but he was so offended by the prevailing attitude of Christian fundamentalism, by both students and commanders, that he changed his mind and decided not to go. x(

[LynneSin]

9. What a fricking shame. These men are so worried a man would hit on them...

and they'll be treated the same exact way they would treat women.

Only thing is this - gay men have enough common sense to keep their peckers in their pants and not sexually harass someone.

[dsc]

10. actually ending DADT will help this some

many women don't come forward now for fear of being accused of being, or being found out to be, lesbian. I know it won't solve the problem but it will help some.

[blondeatlast]

11. Agreed; this is a critical issue. nt

[RegieRocker]

12. K&R

[GeorgeGist]

13. Progressives figured DADT out nearly 20 years ago.

Don't hold your breath.

[Nikia]

20. Do they have anti sexual harassment training or anything like that?

If they don't, they should. If they do, maybe they should evaluate the program and make sure that it is taken seriously. We had anti sexual harassment training at college orientation at my private college and my sister did at her public unversity.

[bobbolink]

21. The lesson from DADT is that WOMEN will need to take this issue very seriously, fund legal resources

for women in the military, and use every means necessary to make this an issue in the spotlight.

Where is NOW on this? Are there any feminists (any still existing anywhere?) who would take this up and start a huge fight about it?

Sadly, that is the only way it is going to be addressed at all.

I thank you for bringing this up. This intersects with the issue of homelessness, because more female vets are now becoming homeless, and more WOMEN are homeless with "mental illness" precisely because of the incidence of RAPE!