Activists protest military ban on gays

Activists protest military ban on gays
By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - On paper, Haven Herrin seems to be an ideal candidate for military recruiters.

She can easily run five miles and was valedictorian of her college class. "Frankly, I'm exactly the kind of person the military says it wants," she said.

But when Herrin tried recently to sign up for the Minnesota National Guard, she was turned down because she told the recruiter she is a lesbian — a revelation that tripped the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay service members.

Her admission was the opening round of a nationwide campaign against the 13-year-old policy by a group of young activists. In the next few months, gay men and women in their late teens and early 20s will attempt to enlist at recruiting offices in 30 cities. They will also disclose their sexual orientation.

If they are rebuffed, the activists plan to stage sit-ins at the offices, hoping to attract media coverage and support from a public they believe increasingly opposes the ban.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060811/ap_on_re_us/gay_recruits_2

then why the fuck do they have to pay taxes? I'm a veteran and some of the finest Sailors I served with were gay. I spent a great deal of time as a "middle manager" in the Navy dealing with the straight guys who couldn't balance a check book or who had a habit of getting drunk and beating their wives. There is no rational reason to keep a gay from joining the military if he/she wants to. The two reasons they can't; ignorance based on religious hate and self-hatred by guys who would rather shower with other straight guys then with gay guys. Total fucking insanity.