Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for December 16, 2010
December 15, 2010
December 17, 2010
Transcript:
Melissa: So what's your MOS, Jackie? Soldier: I'm a weapons analyst... I gather performance data on new systems from the field. It's a mission-critical specialty. My team leader was furious at me. Not for being gay, but for letting myself get busted. Melissa: Then he hasn't a clue how hard it is to... Soldier: No, no, he's gay too. But he needed me.
Yes, Jelindy, I’m sure it happens all the time. I recall one of my early assignments where two soldiers, a gay male and a lesbian, married so they could move out of the barracks and live off post where they could have the privacy to live their separate lives while sharing an apartment. They stayed married through two assignments until both completed their enlistments. My wife and I were privileged to know their secret, but of course the more who knew, the bigger the danger. Lots of people suspected, I’m sure.
Of course failure to report a violation of the UCMJ may have gotten me in trouble. Although I’m unaware of straight guys getting in trouble for not turning in gay soldiers, I’m sure it happened somewhere. When I was a platoon leader, I made it clear that I didn’t care who or what people were partnering with (I used more colorful language then) as long as it didn’t interfere with the mission. I guess if I had a CO that felt differently it would have been a problem, but I never had a problem arise from any of my soldier’s sexual orientation.