A River's water of thoughts

In Solider the UK military magazine's July 2009 issue they did a profile on equality within the military in regards to gay soldiers. On pages 23-27.

Pride not Prejudice

In an interview with Soldier, Tpr James Wharton (The Household Cavalry Regiment) explained that instead of being oppressed, gay and lesbian Army personnel are now given full support.

“I came out to the Army before I told my parents, so that says a lot for the Armed Forces,” said the 22-year-old.
“I told the Army in March 2003, after all my initial training was over – I was 18. I have always known I was gay but it wasn’t until then that I told anyone.”

The decision to lift the ban on gays in the Army came after two landmark cases heard at the European Court of Human Rights, which found that the MoD’s policy was not sustainable.
Despite the change, the other half of the UK’s “special relationship” – the United States – has not relaxed its attitude towards homosexuals in
the Forces.

“I still can’t get my head round the US’ ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” said Tpr Wharton, who has served Queen and country for six years.

“Luckily I don’t have to deal with it, but clearly there will be gay soldiers in the US Army who are not being themselves – they aren’t allowed to be.”

Tpr Wharton was deployed to Iraq on OpTelic 10 in 2007 on long-range desert patrols and he says the idea of a “pansy” serving in a conflict zone is a flawed one.

“I would say whoever goes on a tour to a place like Iraq can’t really be described as a pansy – so the gay stereotype doesn’t really apply,” he said.

The Liverpool FC fan, who met his boyfriend Ryan during last year’s London Gay Pride march – the first time members of the Armed Forces were allowed to march in uniform – went on to say that although he can find himself on the wrong end of “banter”, it is
not a problem.

Equal Partners Mrs. & Mrs.

THE pressures of military life have never discriminated against Helen and Elspeth De Montes-Davis – the reality of deployments, risk to life and limb and long periods of separation are as real to them as they are to anyone in the Army.

Based in Catterick, Yorkshire, the two captains have been unfailingly successful in their careers as health professionals. Moving from the ranks to earn a commission as an officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, nurse Helen has seen action on two busy Op
Telic tours. Elspeth, a recruit from the NHS, is studying to be a GP.

The only aspect of life that sets the pair, both aged 30, aside from their colleagues is the fact that they are a gay couple. Married in a civil partnership in February, they now have the right to be posted together and are entitled to their own quarter. And they are both delighted with the respect they have been shown by colleagues.

“I think the fact that we are both completely open about our sexuality does make life a lot easier,” Helen admitted. “We don’t try to hide it at all and people are very accepting. At the end of the day, we’re just another Army couple.

“Life is really no easier or harder than it is for a straight partnership – we’ve been married for 18 months now and often go out to each other’s functions together. The Army Medical Services is great and we’ve had no negative backchat.”

Now while we look on in jealously at the U.K. look at this:



We are making progress. It is time to put pressure on our lawmakers. We have a young representative who is taking this issue head on. It doubly helps that he is an Iraq Vet and has had to deal with the negative consequences of DADT that lost us valuable men and women in the armed forces.

Three and a half brigades have been fired for being gay!! We are losing two people every damn day! We are in war-time. We need these people. This is a matter of national security not morality, not religion, not prejudice...this is about being able to protect this nation and this should finally get those gd bigots to wake the fuck up and allow this law to die and allow Gay and Lesbian men and women (trans too!) to fight for nation being openly gay!!