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Allies' stance cited in US gays-in-military debate
2009-07-12
NEW YORK - When it comes to dealing with gay personnel in the ranks, the contrasts are stark among some of the world's proudest, toughest militaries -- and these differing approaches are invoked by both sides as Americans renew debate over the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Muzi.com News 10091508-1 (muzi.com)In the United States, more than 12,000 service members -- including dozens of highly trained Arabic linguists -- have been dismissed since 1994 because it became known they were gay. Current targets for discharge include a West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran, Army National Guard Lt. Dan Choi, and a veteran of combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach. Muzi.com News 10091508-2 (muzi.com) In Britain, on the other hand, gay and lesbian service members marched in crisp uniforms in the annual Pride London parade July 4. Gay Australian soldiers and sailors had their own float in Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras parade. In Israel, the army magazine earlier this year featured two male soldiers on the cover, hugging one another. Muzi.com News 10091508-3 (muzi.com) America's "don't ask, don't tell" policy -- which prohibits gays from serving openly in the armed forces -- is the target of intensifying opposition, and President Barack Obama says he favors lifting the ban. But he wants to win over skeptics in Congress and the Pentagon, and a fierce debate lies ahead that will inevitably touch on the experiences of allied nations that have no bans. Muzi.com News 10091508-4 (muzi.com) U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, has just launched a campaign for a bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." He observed British troops in Iraq operating smoothly with a serve-openly policy and bristles at the contention that America's armed forces would suffer morale and recruiting problems if they followed suit. Muzi.com News 10091508-5 (muzi.com) "I take it as a personal affront to our warriors," said the Pennsylvania Democrat. "To say that other countries' soldiers are professional enough to handle this and American soldiers aren't is really a slap in the face." Muzi.com News 10091508-6 (muzi.com) Those seeking to preserve the U.S. ban question whether the allies' experiences have been as smooth as advertised and depict America's military as so unique that lessons from overseas should be ignored anyway. Muzi.com News 10091508-7 (muzi.com) "We are the military leaders in the world -- everybody wants to be like us," said Brian Jones, a retired sergeant major who served in the Army Rangers. "Why in the world would we try to adjust our military model to be like them?" Muzi.com News 10091508-8 (muzi.com) With such polarized views as a backdrop, Associated Press reporters took an in-depth look at how the militaries of Israel, Britain and Australia have managed with serve-openly policies, and interviewed partisans on both sides of the debate in the United States about the relevance of those experiences. Muzi.com News 10091508-9 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10091508-10 (muzi.com) Israel: Muzi.com News 10091508-11 (muzi.com) A nation in a constant state of combat readiness, Israel has had no restrictions on military service by gays since 1993 -- a policy now considered thoroughly uncontroversial. Muzi.com News 10091508-12 (muzi.com) Gays were permitted to serve even before then, but not in certain intelligence positions where, at the time, they were deemed possible security risks vulnerable to blackmail. Now, gays and lesbians -- among them several senior officers -- serve in all branches of the military, including combat duty. Muzi.com News 10091508-13 (muzi.com) "In this regard, Israel has one of the most liberal armies in the world," said Yagil Levy, a sociologist from the Open University of Israel. Muzi.com News 10091508-14 (muzi.com) The army recognizes the partners of gay officers as their bereaved next-of-kin after their deaths, eligible for benefits. Gay officers at promotions and other ceremonies often have their partners by their sides. Muzi.com News 10091508-15 (muzi.com) Maj. Yoni Schoenfeld, a gay officer who is the editor of the military magazine, Bamahane, said there was very little friction in the ranks related to gay soldiers. Muzi.com News 10091508-16 (muzi.com) He served as a combat soldier and as commander of a paratrooper company, and said his sexual orientation -- though known to fellow soldiers -- was never an issue. Gay jokes would sometimes surface, unusually not malicious, he said, while receptiveness to gays in combat units could vary. Muzi.com News 10091508-17 (muzi.com) "If you're gay and live in the 'manly' world, there are no problems," he said. "Those who are more feminine in their speech and appearance have a harder time fitting in." Muzi.com News 10091508-18 (muzi.com) He sympathized with gays in the U.S. military who don't enjoy the same liberty he did. Muzi.com News 10091508-19 (muzi.com) "There shouldn't be a problem with it," he said. "It's the nature of man, and when you allow it to happen (serving openly), it's not a problem anymore." Muzi.com News 10091508-20 (muzi.com) Schoenfeld's magazine has reflected the evolving attitudes. In 2001, it was shut down briefly after featuring an interview with a retired colonel who had come out of the closet. Yet this year, there was no adverse reaction to the cover picture of two male soldiers embracing. Muzi.com News 10091508-21 (muzi.com) A gay magazine, meanwhile, named a major as its "man of a year" a few years ago; he continues to serve without harm to his career. Muzi.com News 10091508-22 (muzi.com) The military also provided the backdrop for Israel's precursor to "Brokeback Mountain" -- the 2002 movie "Yossi & Jagger" about two Israeli combat soldiers who fall in love on the front lines. It was a hit with critics and the public, and was even screened on military bases. Muzi.com News 10091508-23 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10091508-24 (muzi.com) Australia: Muzi.com News 10091508-25 (muzi.com) Back in 1992, Anita Van Der Meer was threatened with discharge from the Australian navy for being a lesbian. She denied the charge to save her job -- and later that year the military's ban on gays and lesbians was lifted. Muzi.com News 10091508-26 (muzi.com) This spring, Van Der Meer marched proudly with more than 100 other service members in Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade under an Australian Defense Force banner. Even a general joined the march. Muzi.com News 10091508-27 (muzi.com) Now a chief petty officer, Van Der Meer was a junior sailor in 1992 when someone reported she was engaged in a same-sex relationship. Muzi.com News 10091508-28 (muzi.com) "It was very traumatic for me, but I still had the cooperation of my supervisors and my peers," said Van Der Meer, 41. "In the end, I had more support than I expected." Muzi.com News 10091508-29 (muzi.com) Chief Petty Officer Stuart O'Brien, who joined the navy 19 years ago, said being openly gay has not been an issue, even when working alongside U.S. military personnel in Baghdad in 2006. Muzi.com News 10091508-30 (muzi.com) "They valued the work that I did and that's all that it comes down to at the end of the day," O'Brien said. "Sexuality has nothing to do with anything any more within the services." Muzi.com News 10091508-31 (muzi.com) The lifting of the ban on gays was preceded by years of heated debate, yet the change itself was relatively uneventful aside from a few unexpected coming-outs of high-profile commanders. Muzi.com News 10091508-32 (muzi.com) "Everyone said, 'Good heavens, that's a bit of a surprise' and after five minutes the conversation reverted back to football," said Neil James of the Australian Defense Association, a security think tank. "After a while it was met with a collective yawn." Muzi.com News 10091508-33 (muzi.com) Among opponents of the change at the time was Australia's main veterans group, the Returned and Services League, which has now withdrawn its objections. Muzi.com News 10091508-34 (muzi.com) The league's president, retired Maj. Gen. Bill Crews, said concerns about lowered morale and HIV transmission on the battlefield had proved ill-founded. Muzi.com News 10091508-35 (muzi.com) "I was there in the early days of it. ... I thought there'd be a continuing problem because of prejudice that exists in parts of the community," Crews said. "I don't see any evidence now that homosexuals are in any way discriminated against. ...A homosexual can be just as effective a soldier as a heterosexual." Muzi.com News 10091508-36 (muzi.com) Some skepticism lingers, however. Muzi.com News 10091508-37 (muzi.com) Brig. Jim Wallace, who commanded an elite Special Air Service mechanized brigade until retiring in 2000, argues that gays and women should be barred from combat roles. Muzi.com News 10091508-38 (muzi.com) "Do you want an army which is already likely to be outnumbered wherever it fights to be fighting at its most effective or its least effective?" Wallace asks. "If you want to sacrifice fighting effectiveness for political correctness, then all right, go ahead." Muzi.com News 10091508-39 (muzi.com)
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