Gays in the military

On the editorial page today, the LAT argues for ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, primarily citing polls but also telling of a Navy enlisted man who was discharged for using a restricted military computer system to send personal e-mails "that in some cases were romantic or sexual." The LAT says the man was gay and was discharged for that reason. Gay or straight, he should have been discharged for illicitly using the computer system.

If a person is doing his or her job, whatever that job might be, that person's personal life is his or her own business. No one needs to know and ordinarily has no interest in knowing whether that person is gay or straight. Ordinarily, a straight does not tap another straight on the shoulder to say: "I'm straight." If a gay taps a straight on the shoulder to announce his or her gayness it's insulting. The straight's urge is to say: "Keep it to yourself. I'm not interested." Why do gays and those who support gays insist that gays should publicize their gayness? Surely it's to proselytize.