(USMC) Conway Concerned With Gays in Barracks

[unhappycamper]

Conway Concerned With Gays in Barracks
March 26, 2010
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

The Marine Corps' top officer said March 25 that even if the ban on openly-serving gays in the services is lifted, he would draw the line at forcing heterosexual Marines to bunk with gays on base.

"We want to continue (two-person rooms), but I would not ask our Marines to live with someone who is homosexual if we can possibly avoid it," Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway told Military.com during an exclusive interview at the Pentagon. "And to me that means we have to build BEQs and have single rooms."

Conway's comments came the same day that Defense Secretary Robert Gates reprimanded the Army's Pacific commander for publicly exhorting servicemembers and civilians to write to Congress to oppose repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon made his views known in a letter published in Stars and Stripes on March 8.

"If those of us who are in favor of retaining the current policy do not speak up, there is no chance to retain the current policy," Mixon said in his letter. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said Mixon should consider resigning over the comments, which fly in the face of President Obama's stated intent to end the ban on gays serving openly. Mullen is an advocate of repeal.

Also on March 25, Pentagon chief Robert Gates announced new guidelines intended to make it more difficult to boot someone from the service under DADT, including elevating the grade of officers able to separate gay servicemembers to flag and general officers only. Previously, O-6s could separate members determined to have committed homosexual conduct, according to a Defense Department statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/conway-concerned-with-gays-in-barracks.html?col=1186032310810

[RKP5637]

1. Ridiculous, tries to make gays look like a bunch of dogs in heat. Absolutely ridiculous... n/t

[xchrom]

2. They're in the barracks now. Nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. +1000 This guy is a top Marine, but he possesses no logic apparently.

[BR_Parkway]

3. Where they gonna find enough straight marines to fill up all the rooms?

Seriously, this guy is really shaming marines for a lack of bravery with comments like this.

[JohnnyLib2]

5. One thing that amazes me--

In all the talk about the issue, I don't recall ever seeing a specific incident/complaint/documented case of a real life "disruption."
That's different from other tough issues like abortion rights, where individuals are brought forth with horror stories.

Mythical fears? Have I just missed such reports? Comments appreciated.

[Raster]

6. Methinks the Commandant General doth protest too much.

[Major Hogwash]

7. Then let's build BEQs and have single rooms then, Commandant Conway!!

Some of the men that were killed in Lebanon in 1983 were gay, and some of the rest of the men knew it.
They didn't care, they were Marines, just like the rest of us.
Some of them knew about the others yet they kept their mouths shut about it.
And the men that were gay kept their mouths shut about it, too!

What difference did it make to anyone after they were dead?
Try answering that question, Commandant Conway!

Those Marines weren't prancing around in pink tutus, Commandant Conway.
They passed through the same boot camp YOU went through, so they earned the right to the title "Marine", just as you and I did!

Jesus Christ, Commandant Conway, Lebanon was 27 years ago!
Go look at the names of the Marines on the Beirut memorial that took us 25 years to get.
Then tell me which one of those men didn't deserve to have their own BEQ or single roon at any point in their young life!

Is that really the only excuse you can come up with?
Really?
Because it is lame.
It is really lame.
With all due respect, it is beyond lame, sir.
It is ridiculous.

Do I have to remind you, Commandant Conway, that the man that saved President Ford's life was a Marine.
And when it was found out that he was gay, the media ruined his life for it.
Jesus Christ, Commandant Conway, that was 35 years ago!!!

We reside in the 21st Century now, Commandant Conway.
Bring the Marines up to date.
Modernize the Marine Corps.

We all die, Commandant Conway.
We all face the Grim Reaper at some point in our short lives.
Look into the abyss, Commandant Conway, that is where our future lies.
Face it, Commandant Conway, when that day comes, and it will, it won't make one bit of difference to the Grim Reaper, to you or to me, or to the Marine Corps if the Marine was gay or straight.
That's reality, smell the gun smoke, Commandant Conway!

I was really hoping that you would be a leader for this change, because this change is going to happen whether you are active or have retired.
You could have been the one to be a REAL leader on this issue, Commandant Conway.
You could have made history!!
And isn't that what Marines are for - to make history?

We changed the attitude and the atmosphere the Marine Corps had about letting women serve in the Marine Corps many decades ago.
We even changed the attitude and the atmosphere the Marine Corps had in the 70s about racism, Commandant Conway.
We will change the attitude and atmosphere sometime in the very near future the Marine Corps has towards gays, as well.

There is no difference between a straight or a gay Marine, they are all Marines!
There is no difference between a male and a female Marine, they are all Marines!

Go ask the newest recruit at Parris Island if he gives a damn if the man next to him in formation is gay, Commandant Conway.

It's the way of the world, Commandant Conway.
Bring the Marine Corps into it, and stop living in the past!