Lesbian Who Fled Army Opens Legal Ground in Canada

[ccharles000]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (WOMENSENEWS)--For months, Pvt. Bethany Smith silently endured taunts and physical abuse from her fellow soldiers at Fort Campbell, Ky., for being a lesbian.

But when she received an anonymous note one day with a threat against her life, Smith decided she had to get out of the Army.

"It said that they were going to break into the supply room and get the keys to my room and beat me to death in my bed," Smith said, adding that the letter came only a couple months after she learned the Army was deploying her to Afghanistan. "It was at that point that I knew I was more afraid of the people who were supposed to be on my side than people we were supposed to be fighting overseas."

More than 12,000 service members have lost their jobs because of the U.S. military's so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy. A disproportionate number of those discharges are women, according to 2008 statistics gathered by the Washington-based Servicemembers Legal Defense Network from the government under the Freedom of Information Act.

With the help of an acquaintance, Smith abandoned Fort Campbell and drove for two straight days to Canada, where she hoped to seek asylum.

She crossed the border on Sept. 11, 2007.

http://www.womensenews.org/story/lesbian-and-transgender/091204/lesbian-who-fled-army-opens-legal-ground-in-canada

[PDJane]

1. one of the few legal decisions I've agreed with lately.....

I'm glad to hear it, and I hope there is more of it.

[C_Lawyer09]

2. That sure doesn't ring true to me

In twenty plus years of service, I've never seen or heard of a lesbian being threatened for their sexual orientation. I've served with several lesbians. Guys just didn't care, and females aren't like guys in their suspicion and oppression of homosexuality. I read the article, but this rings very false. It is reminiscent of the many of the linguists who petition to be chaptered out of the Army, after their expensive training is completed, before they would help anybody with their arabic or farsi knowledge. I've watched plenty of gay and lesbian soldiers be administratively discharged without any melodramatic fleeing to Canada. Of course I guess the correct answer, would be to enlist in the don't ask don't tell Army, and then flee to Canada when deployment is imminent.

[readmoreoften]

3. But have you been deployed to a warzone? It's consistent with the stories I'm hearing

from female soldiers, those in Winter Soldier, etc. Very true that most male troops are comfortable with lesbians--but those who aren't are likely to be at a heightened pitch in the (particularly current) war zones. All it takes is a small minority to threaten your life--and the military itself is absolutely going to cover it up. You can bet real money on that.

[C_Lawyer09]

5. Sure, I'm on terminal leave right now

I actually have twenty some days left until retirement. Served with plenty of lesbians. Never saw the small minority. Respectfully, Don't tell me what I can bet on in regards to my profession. I've served in some good units, some bad, some stuff probably does get covered up. Remember this, I know and have worked with guys, that actually are in and amongst some of the "big story" cover ups. There is a large degree of truth to some, to a few, not much. I've never been a true believer or a yes man, ever. Ask yourself this question:"If a gay or lesbian service member is supposed to be discharged, by admonition or act, why would anybody flee to Canada"? Here is an Air Force Lt. Colonel with thousands of hrs. of combat missions, about to be seperated, which he has been fighting at length, and here is this Army Private, who obviously is a big thorn in the side of her command, especially now, tell me, what unit is going to spend the time and money to fight for a private who is in violation of don't ask don't tell? It really gets old. Reminds me of all the articles about how recruiters target minorities and the underpriveleged. No, recruiters target their zip codes they are given, rich poor black white or other. Don't get me wrong, bad shit happens in the service, just like it happens in the civilian world, but one reason journalists love to zone in on military stuff, is it is a hot button issue, draws a lot of interest and public opinion, but most of all, almost all stories are hard to validate. Just like the 82d Abn Division barracks that were so terrible, mold, etc. etc. It's North Carolina, humid. Those barracks weren't that bad, they were old. All of a sudden, a story... Senate sub-committees, what a crock.

[Cid_B]

6. Agreed...

Normally I would refer to "spidey senses" on this one but it isn't needed.

This stinks to high heaven. She needs to get her butt back and fulfill her obligation.

[NMMNG]

7. Just because *you* didn't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist

http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/army-times-armys-treatment-of-homosexuals-an-attack-on-values/
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Allen.htm
http://www.sldn.org/blog/archives/remembering-pfc-barry-winchell-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-his-murder/


Of course my personal opinion is that we shouldn't even bother with military service in the first place. After all, not only do the heterosupremacists think we're so icky they don't want us there in the first place, but why should we go risk our asses for a nation that doesn't have the decency to grant us the rights everyone else takes for granted? Let the bigots be the ones to go risk life and limb if they think they're so much better than we are.

[C_Lawyer09]

8. Well, first you should be mindful of the "who" it is you are speaking of

Because I don't think it's me and my buddies who care if homosexuals are in uniform. All I give a darn about is competence, just like any other job. Having said that, if you had some actual "eyes or ears on" you'd easily be able to understand how silly this flight to Canada really was. I guarantee you, just as in the "single mom getting deployed" story, that I attempted to explain, vis a vis the family care plan policy, if you experienced these happenings first hand, you'd have an understanding of the grandstanding most of these stories represent versus the boring realities.

[Statistical]

4. Wonder why she didn't just violate DADT?

I mean DADT should be gone but right now it exists.

If she went to chain of command and admitted to being gay she would be chaptered out under DADT.
Seems an easier "solution" than deserting and having that on her record forever.

Of course nobody should need to fear their life because of sexual orientation but just seems to be she could have used DADT to her advantage rather than desert.