Kansas Guard discharges first gay soldier

[sabra]

Source: AP

TOPEKA | The Kansas Army National Guard has discharged its first gay soldier under the federal “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Amy Brian, who served nine years in the Guard, including a stint in Iraq, was investigated and “separated” last month after a civilian co-worker told authorities they had seen her kissing a woman in a Wal-Mart checkout line.

Brian joins almost 12,500 other lesbian, gay and bisexual service members discharged from 1994 to 2007.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1024452.html

[Ian David]

1. Serves her right for shopping at fucking Wal-Mart.

What?

I'm kidding!

Okay, sort of.

[izquierdista]

6. Should have gone to one in Las Vegas

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. In many towns in Kansas WalMart is the only option

[Betty]

2. good policy, just when we need more troops

throw out qualified people. Makes sense to me.

[Wapsie B]

3. They had better be careful.

The next time they have a fight for freedomwar, declaring onesself as gay is a perfect way for someone to get out of military service. Or will the fundies overlook that principle when the bloodletting starts? On second thought we do have Afganistan. Are the rwingers really sure they want to kick out the gays?

[sarge43]

4. Wow, now that's really an Easy Out, just kissing another woman.

Used to be you had to get knocked up to get a 214.

These kids nowadays .....

[riderinthestorm]

27. Heh. I already posted online and IRL "announcements" that both my daughters are gay.

Pre-emptively of course in case they should ever find themselves drafted or whatnot. It's out there that they're gay.

Of course my 12 yr old is a tad young to be declaring her sexuality but here's Mom to do it for her! And my 21 year old will thank me (when she gets back from vacation with her boyfriend), I just know it!.

I mean this all sarcastically, but hell - it's a no brainer way to get out of military service if the draft ever does come up.

Yup, DADT is fucked up. I hope O'Brien knows there are a whole slew of us who get it. 9 years of service and a combat tour - wow. I really want to know the name of her "informer". That's the motherfucker in this case....

:-(

[No Elephants]

5. Does some reg say that kissing someone at Wal-Mart=telling? If not, on what basis are

they discharging her again?

[JerseygirlCT]

23. Good point... nt

[damntexdem]

7. She may have kissed, but she didn't tell.

And after someone 'reported' it, they shouldn't have asked further. She could have been kissing her mother or her sister -- to find out whom she kissed, and even establish the nature of the kiss, they must have investigated further. That's asking.

Aside from being such a discriminatory policy, DADT is not a successful policy at what it purports to do -- because THEY STILL ASK.

[MineralMan]

8. Wait....what? I thought two girls kissing was supposed to be

hot! I'm so confused...

[gilpo]

9. I doubt she was Kansas' FIRST gay soldier.

[Pakhet]

20. My exact thought! n/t

[David Zephyr]

10. Of course, this matter will drop like a stone at the DU as groupthink "priorities" rank this low.

Past is prologue.

I love the DU, but here's a certain law of the groupthink here: this thread and news will typically sink like a stone and be let to die as the thread is either:

1.) greeted with loud silence from those who normally will post at the drop of the hat on just about any subject;

2.) greeted with a few gratuitous posts of "advice" on how the GLBT needs to prioritize our struggle for civil rights;

3.) greeted with patronizing advice that GLBT Americans" just need to be patient" and understand that there are far more urgent matters right now (funny, how those urgent matters change so much);

4.) greeted with postings by the handful of GLBT DU'ers who I admire so much and who never give up on the great injustice against our community...and who would never give up on Amy Brian either.

Sadly, I truly doubt that Amy Brian's 9 nears of service and her outrageous treatment will receive much sympathy here. I wish it wasn't so, I'd like to for once be proven wrong, but I don't expect it.

[Chulanowa]

13. Know what's really funny?

Is that none of what you describe is happening on this thread. But now that you've decided to post this, I'm sure a lot of people - such as myself - who were going to post their thoughts of sympathy for this woman and disappointment with the military policy, will take time out of their day to pay some attention to you. Some of this attention will doubtless be of the exact nature of what you were complaining about.

You could have just started your own thread titled "K&R THIS THREAD IF YOU..." :shrug:

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

15. there is nothing more important than civil rights

not the economy, because without civil rights we are bankrupt as a nation
not the war, because if we can't protect our own citizens from discrimination who are we to be fighting for anyone else's rights
not bi or post parsonship because we can't sacrifice civil rights to pander to bigots
nothing is more important than civil rights, not just for LGBTs but for any segment of the minority population the majority tries to abuse and disinfranchise. JMHO

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[Chulanowa]

12. What a fucking ridiculous policy...

And what the fuck, a civilian co-worker "reported" her for allegedly kissing someone in wal-mart? First, who the hell does heavy snogging in the wal-mart checkout lane? No one, I'd bet. Second, what fucking concern is it of this co-worker's?

Asinine

[pasto76]

16. You all dont understand how this works.

It doesnt matter who did what, it matters who saw it. They report "credible" information.

Another example of military policy. If I make an off color joke to a female soldier, and _someone else hears it_ I can get charged with sexual harrassment, regardless of whether or not the female to whom I was speaking is offended.

But the real shame of this, is that this soldier already proved her worthiness by having served in Iraq. Something TENS OF MILLIONS (hundreds of millions?) of people just cant seem to make time for.

But then again, this happened in Kentucky.

SGT PASTO

[HillWilliam]

14. K&R again

Even though I agree with the poster upthread that the subject will probably sink like a stone anyway. DADT is one thing for which I will never forgive Bill Clinton. He knew better, but didn't do better. I'm not expecting, I am demanding better from Barack Obama. Enough of this shit is enough. If my vote is good enough, so is the rest of me.

[Ohio Joe]

17. So... assuming this story is true...

Simply kissing someone of the same sex makes you gay? Ummmm, I don't think so. Two years ago, I was taken out by a group of friends for my birthday. I got wicked drunk and started kissing this girl, her boyfriend came over and said "Hey! you want to stop kissing my girlfriend?" I stood up, staggered over to him and said, "It's my birthday, I'm kissing everyone" Then grabbed his head with both hands and planted a big sloppy one on him. He just kind of stared at me a little dumb founded and said "ok then". So, off I staggered to find someone else to kiss :D While it makes for a great story, it did not make me gay, I still only desire women.

[Blue_Tires]

18. does Brian have any legal recourse? or is she done?

and that co-worker who dropped the dime is a fuckin' piece of shit..have THAT person's name printed and ask him or her to explain to everyone why there is one less experienced veteran in the army....

EDIT: I see this story comes out of Topeka...I sure hope Phelps isn't involved in this

[xchrom]

21. 9 years of service. nt

[LostinVA]

25. And a combat stint

[Celeborn Skywalker]

22. Fuckin' bullshit.

:grr: Obama needs to get on repealing DADT.

[Zhade]

24. He sure does.

KICK AND REC

[Blue_Tires]

26. ttt

[Eryemil]

28. I remember first going to the US as a child, at first I expected to become a citizen eventually

Now that I'm older... Well, the subject has fallen under a different light.
Would becoming an American citizen be an endorsement of shit like this? I suppose not but why would I want to become part of a nation that does not want me?

For all its foibles I still have a soft spot for the country, which I guess is why I come here so often. But I find myself in Vancouver, on a student visa, a free citizen in all but name in ways that I wasn't in my country of origin and ways I'd never be in the US and can't for the life of me think of a reason why I should go back.