A Kansas National Guard Member Returns From Iraq To A Girlfriend's Kiss...And A Discharge »
Posted By TimALoftis 8 months, 2 weeks ago in FamilyPresident Barack Obama has promised to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy relating to homosexual service members, but gays and lesbians are still being forced out of the military.
As CBS News correspondent Ross Palombo reports, even seasoned soldiers are losing their careers.
Amy Brian served in the Kansas National Guard for nine years. She fought in Iraq … and survived an IED attack. Instead of being treated as a war hero, this second-generation soldier has been booted out--a victim of the government's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "All of a sudden you wake up real quick and think, 'Oh, this is reality,'" she said.
She ran into trouble when a coworker saw her off-duty and out of uniform at Wal-Mart. That woman told the military: Brian was kissing her girlfriend.
Brian said she was later told, "You're being investigated for homosexual misconduct." She insists everyone knew she was a lesbian, but nobody cared during combat. "I figured if no one asked me, that there wasn't a problem."
More than 12,500 gay and lesbian soldiers have been discharged since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" began in 1993. To learn more about Amy Brian's situation, take a look at the CBS video below.
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive66 Replies
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Justice4All8 months, 2 weeks ago
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This should be a lesson to everyone that your military reputation is only as good as the likes of Karl Rove want it to be. They can turn a decorated veteran like Kerry into a Chicken, a deserter like Bush into a hero and a hero into a homo.
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USMCVet8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Decorated Vet "Kerry", check your resources, Kerry was the C.O. .....he nominated and awarded his own medals, then pretended to throw them away-to look good to his fellow ex-patriots. I agree that this young lady should have kept her PDA behind closed doors, as should all people. She is a American Hero and should be treaqted as one, they should bust the dumb Broad who went out of her way to report the incident, for defamation of character.
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mfussell23168 months, 2 weeks ago
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Kerry a decorated war hero? Oh yeah, I forgot about that scratch he got on his knee when he wrecked the Swift Boat. What about John McCain? He's got more heroism in his finger nail than Kerry has in his whole body. Don't act like your man Clinton is so honorable. Wasn't he the one that cut loose with the loath the military comment? Our country would be better off if Lib Dems would at least do like Clinton and dodge the draft / not enlist, instead of entering and being a lousy wus like Kerry was/is. At least Bush could fly a fighter plane in the Guard!
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eagle126878 months, 2 weeks ago
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Bush is not a perfect person, he is not conservative enough for me, but he was never a deserter. Liberals kept saying he was a deserter until people believed it, but with NO evidence! WHEN DID HE DESERT? HOW DID HE DESERT? It is an empty accusation!
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Kerry was AGAINST the war! I guess that he just didn't think that protecting the South Vietmanese from communism was a good enough reason for a one. Clinton was the one who came up with the don't ask don't tell policy! And he DID dodge the draft! -
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HAT1701D8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Actually, it was Clinton who ENACTED the "Don't ask don't tell" policy....So it has absolutely nothing to do with Karl Rove. I served from 89-93, served in Shield and Storm. Rules on PDA were very explicit and spelled out. If she couldn't follow some of the most basic in the Armed Forces...well, that's her fault.
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hamy8 months, 2 weeks ago
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JamesC988 months, 2 weeks ago
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Listen up, ass-face, I spent 28 years in the Corps fighting bad guys so people like you could sit on your asses and make stupid statements about the military. Don't go critisizing us until you've fought along side. Oh, and I have never seen, nor do I ever expect to see, a homosexual hero. Heros are special. George Bush isn't one, but your little lesbian isn't either and I doubt very seriously if she ever actually saw any actual combat. She might have been over there, in the vicinity, but she sure as hell wasn't out on patrol, so STF UP bitch.
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JamesC988 months, 2 weeks ago
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Listen up *******, as a 28 yr veteran of the Corps I can tell you I never encountered a homosexual hero. They don't exist. Just being in country does not qualify you as a combat soldier. I'll bet your sorry ass that just like you, she never actually fought in combat. So don't give us that line of crap. She knew the rules, violated them and got her justice. So STF up sissy or go look up a Marine so he can kick your ass for you. Life's tough, combat is worse. That's why GOD made Marines to protect little girls like you.
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bcsmorano8 months, 2 weeks ago
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It's all good when we can fight for you right? It's all good when we sign up for you right? It's all good when we die for you right? But it's nit all good when we are human beings right? Your'e all sick and make the real Americans sick as well.
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NYlover8 months, 2 weeks ago
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There were and are alot of active homosexual heros in the service to the US. Unfortunately they have to keep in the closet. Bill got to cheat on his wife and stay president and become a million dollar speech maker, he should have just said yes allow every able adult in the service. They say one in six people is homosexual or bisexual. there are a million folks in the service - do the math. I have personally known 19 war heros who were gay. They didnt come out until years after serving and only then to Pflag members. My uncle served in vietnam,persian gulf, and iraq, was decorated many times, saved dozens of lives directly with bravery and many more withhis leadership. He was homosexual, and his little bigoted buddies didnt know until his funeral when the family let his partner of 40 years run the proceedings. They cried...knowing that they would all be dead if it was not for the "f" in the casket and knowing they would have treated him like dirt had they knew.
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nightangel038 months, 2 weeks ago
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This article angered me. This girl has served and fought for her country in a place most people would be too scared to go. She was NOT in uniform and kissed her partner in a store. BIG FREAKIN DEAL!!! It's not like this makes our military look bad or incompetent. This is ridiculous!! I would fight for justice if I were her. She should be recognized for her bravery in Iraq rather than be dismissed for kissing a girl.
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UCMC38 months, 2 weeks ago
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It doesn't matter what her sexual preferrences are. She new the ploicy she knew the rules. This is not the public we are talking about; in the military we live a structured regimented life. You obey the rules or you face the price. I don't care if she is or not, not my concern! All I care about is that he or she follows orders. Yea this is a stupid policy but if you are willing to flaunt your disobediance in civies are you goung to do the same out in the field, possibility get my ass shot! Thank you discharge her!
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krys51538 months, 2 weeks ago
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According to the Military Times at militarytimes.com, there is and has been for seerval years, a Marine of the Year. William G. Dixon, Gunnery Sgt. is the 2008 winner, and yes the winner above was gay. Learn the history of the organization you attempt to defend. Only an ignorant person needs to resort to cussing to get their point across.
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krys51538 months, 2 weeks ago
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According to Marine Time at marinetimes.com, there is and has been for some time, a Marine of the Year. William G Dixon, Gunnery Sgt. is the current 20087 winner. Learn the history of the organization you are attempting to defend. There was also a winner in the early 1990's that came out as gay after he left the military.
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njcat19718 months, 2 weeks ago
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not4gaysnmil8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Agree, a rule is a rule is a rule. Find another career path if you want to be open with your sexuality since the military obviously has a ZERO tolerance for it. You know when you sign on that dotted line your sexual life style is frowned upon in the military but yet you want to push the envelope. You want to cry fowl when you are caught doing something you were told at the beginning of your career was not tolerated. There are many other ways to serve your country. You can be a government contractor. You can be in the civil service. You don't have to be in the military which has such high standards which you are willing to follow. There's always people out there wanting to buck the system to further their own agenda.
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P-Lat8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Rules are rules huh? So no one should have complained when Blacks had to sit in the back of the bus cuz that was a rule being enforced right? No one should have complained during segregation, cuz again those were the rules. How about Slavery, how dare anyone complain about that rule being enforced..look at the bigger picture buddy
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mtdenuccisr8 months, 2 weeks ago
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While I grew up in Ohio, I was born in Kansas and my mother was born and raised in Kansas. First, I had to endure the stupidity of the Kansas Board of Education trying to have Creationism/Intelligent Design taught in biology classes. Now this second generation soldier is being kicked out of the U.S. Army because of a homophobic co-worker. I hope the that governor of Kansas and the President Obama will step in and stop this nonsense.
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Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
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mtdenuccisr8 months, 2 weeks ago
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While I grew up in Ohio, I was born in Kansas and my mother was born and raised in Kansas. First, I had to endure the stupidity of the Kansas Board of Education trying to have Creationism/Intelligent Design taught in biology classes. Now this second generation soldier is being kicked out of the U.S. Army because of a homophobic co-worker. I hope the that governor of Kansas and the President Obama will step in and stop this nonsense.
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Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
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bigskysanta8 months, 2 weeks ago
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There is a real difference when it comes to who does the act. I reported a USMC male for sodomizing and sexually assaulting an 18 year old female. He was kicked out of the USMC and barred from any service. He lied, covered up his record and got in the Montana Air National Guard. He was able to hide long enough to get his retirmement. Now when Senator Tester investigated and found this criminal, the Air National Guard says they are not interested that a convicted sex crimional is drawing retirement for life base on a false career.
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ArmyVet8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Our military is full of sexual preditors that abuse there position and when exposed they may get a slap on the wrist or a work detail. Meanwhile we put time and resources into investigating and removing a women who kissed another women while in civilian clothes. What a frickin waste of tax payer money. Absolutley ridiculous.
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mrlucky11068 months, 2 weeks ago
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What a load of crap. We can ask people to fight and die for our right to life liberty and pursuit of happiness, but when they are pursueing thier happiness because some dont agree with it they get booted out of the service. Personally i am disabeled and dont give a damn if the person fighting a war for my rights is gay lesbien or purple they are still our fellow countrymen and we shame ourselves to the world treating them the way our government does. No wonder we lose more and more respect on the world stage almost makes me embarrassed to admit i am AMERICAN.
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mikeward478 months, 2 weeks ago
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Momma Always said it takes all kinds to make a world. get with it people. sexual orientation has nothing to do with heroism. in a World Where so many marriages end in Divorce, I as a Pastor say "if you find someone who loves and respects you, treats you with respect dignity and care, shares, finds and gives you Joy then they belond together, whatever thier preference orsex type may be. They belong together. Give them Respect for wo they are and dont judge them. If anything I say congratulate them for finding someone they can share happiness with. Truly, Don't be a Bigot!
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ericjguerin8 months, 2 weeks ago
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You're a "pastor"? Really? What church? Then you have to be aware of all the pasages in the Bible that speak about fornication, masturbation and sex outside of marriage being sinful, right? Unless you are a "pastor" that believes the Bible can be interpeted as you see fit, like so many pastors do these days. Perhaps you belong to one of the Anglican or Methodist churches with gay leadership. Or maybe you proscribe to obamessiah's belief that Jesus' Sermon on the Mount allows for gay marriage? What ever the case, you are wrong. I am tired of people like you tryng to change this country from its so far successful course, as a country founded upon Christian beliefs, by followers of Christ. The men who wrote the Declaraton of Independence and the Constitution were not gay, buddhist, muslim, athiest, socalist, imperialist or communist. They were hard-working people who beleived in taking care of yourself and helping your neighbors when they needed it. And if you received that help, you did your best to pay it back, in full, with interest.
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RetiredMilitaryComment removed: Spam
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cglavis908 months, 2 weeks ago
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I love how a lot of people have comments when they do not completely understand the topic they are discussing. There are too many negative repercussions if the dont ask dont tell policy is removed. It will create even more of a headache for the leadership when they already have too much on their plate. No, the main reason is not because the military thing homosexuals are gross or disgusting like some of you portray them to be, but it will be impossible to create policies and implement them. i.e currently males and females are not allowed in the same housing/bathrooms-you will need four sets everytime 1 straight males 1 for straight females 1 for homosexual females 1 for homosexual males; there is a large enough problem with people in the same unit having relationships, will they be allowed to serve in combat arms units, the infantry guys are in their own world (and rightfully so) what will happen if they do not accept homosexuals, they claim that thousands have been kicked out of the military for being homosexual, but they cannot prove that all of them were/are homosexual- it is possible they are not gay, but instead use it as a way to get out of their contract.
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Tangent0018 months, 2 weeks ago
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Are you saying military personnel do not have the capacity for self-discipline when it comes to matters of sexuality? Like it or not, gays are showering with straights RIGHT NOW!
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Breat Britain abandoned their DADT policy years ago and the transition went relatively smoothly. And no, they don't have 4 sets of everything. They merely expect a high level of personal discipline. -
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Tangent0018 months, 2 weeks ago
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"“We find literally the same thing again and again, which is people report the lifting of a gay ban as a non-event,” says political scientist Aaron Belkin, director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
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“It has no effect on unit cohesion. It has no effect on military performance. It has no effect on recruitment. It has no effect on any of the indicators of military capability,” adds Belkin, whose center has thoroughly studied the impact of having lifted the gay bans in Britain, Israel, Canada and Australia."
http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/in_print/gays... -
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andyo768 months, 2 weeks ago
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exactly. i if homosexuals can shower with there same sex, then why don't we just have coed showers. it doesn't make sense to put 100 people in an unnatural situation just to make one person happy. if this isn't the truth then why won't the hot girl at the store shower with me???
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bigskysanta8 months, 2 weeks ago
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I forgot some of the details of the USMC Recruiters sexual conviction. He was dressed as a doctor pretending to be a physician giving a physical exam to a 18 yr old -- 8 month pregnant wife of a recruit. He was barred for life from any service. He was able to hide his reenlistment because the USMC hide his trial from the public to avoid embarrashment !
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franj8 months, 2 weeks ago
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SO you've never, ever never, bronken a rule...you're in denial. Not that I agree with the situation, stop being so perfect, search you soul and you'll find you've have bronken a rule at one time or another, by the way we all have broken some rule.
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