Political Crossfire Forums

[ToonArmyIsComing]

This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

Quote: Army joins Gay Pride parade in recruitment drive

Richard Norton-Taylor
Saturday August 27, 2005
The Guardian

Soldiers will parade in uniform at Manchester's Gay Pride festival today as the army launches its first recruitment drive aimed at the gay community.

The soldiers, around 10 of whom are expected on the parade, will also run a recruitment stall at the weekend event.

The Ministry of Defence yesterday played down the significance of the soldiers' participation, and suggested it had nothing to do with the decline in the number of recruits signing up for the armed forces.


Army joins Gay Pride parade in recruitment drive

Richard Norton-Taylor
Saturday August 27, 2005
The Guardian

Soldiers will parade in uniform at Manchester's Gay Pride festival today as the army launches its first recruitment drive aimed at the gay community.

The soldiers, around 10 of whom are expected on the parade, will also run a recruitment stall at the weekend event.

The Ministry of Defence yesterday played down the significance of the soldiers' participation, and suggested it had nothing to do with the decline in the number of recruits signing up for the armed forces.

Article continues
"As far as we are concerned, people's sexuality is a private matter," a spokeswoman said. She added that the armed forces reflected society and encouraged diversity, including of sexual orientation, in the workplace.

Claire Turner, the festival's director, said: "I think it's great the army is coming. They're showing that they welcome gay people and the army is something gay people can be interested in."

Lieutenant Colonel Leanda Pitt, in charge of regional recruiting for the north-west, said: "We are delighted to be taking part in Gay Pride this year. We are attending to promote the benefits a career in the army can bring. Over the three days we will be able to reach a large audience and also enjoy the atmosphere that the festival brings to the city."

Ms Turner said she hoped the army would be more involved next year and put on a float.

The RAF took part in the festival for the first time last year, with the fuselage of a Jaguar strike jet on its float. Of the three armed forces, it has a reputation for having the most progressive attitude towards homosexuality. This year, the RAF float will feature an aircraft cockpit.

A Royal Navy spokesman said its decision not to attend was not an intentional snub. "There are good reasons why we are not attending the [event] in Manchester," he said.

"It's a leave period as far as the navy is concerned, and it's a long way from all the naval bases. The navy has taken part in similar events in the past and will continue to do so in the future."

Ms Turner added: "We would welcome the navy into the festival. Perhaps one day there will be a navy float playing [the Village People hit] In the Navy. They would certainly be welcomed in that spirit."

Five years ago servicemen and women won a test case at the European court of human rights, which ruled that the ban on homosexuals in the armed forces breached the right to a private life. The forces introduced rules forbidding "displays of affection" or "unwelcome sexual attention". They apply to both homosexuals and heterosexuals.

The three-day Manchester festival will feature arts, music and sporting events. Organisers expect 45,000 people to attend.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1557299,00.html

[F'losrix]

ToonArmyIsComing wrote: This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

Not going to happen. Some people claim that lifting the ban on gay people will actually hurt recruiting and retention given the anti-gay climate in the U.S. - you aren't going to see the military here participating in gay pride events.

[ToonArmyIsComing]

Skeptical Mystic wrote: ToonArmyIsComing wrote: This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

Not going to happen. Some people claim that lifting the ban on gay people will actually hurt recruiting and retention given the anti-gay climate in the U.S. - you aren't going to see the military here participating in gay pride events.

It's quite amusing really. They recruit the likes of drug addicts who are not fit to handle a weapon, but then they refuse to accept someone based on something that happens in their bedroom with their partner! :roll:

[social]

ToonArmyIsComing wrote: This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

...which is exactly why they've done it in the first place. As all other alleys have been exhuasted, the army has to resort to recruiting gay people, which is no act of good will, but is, quite simply, a recruiting drive to save their own skins.

[social]

Skeptical Mystic wrote: ToonArmyIsComing wrote: This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

Not going to happen. Some people claim that lifting the ban on gay people will actually hurt recruiting and retention given the anti-gay climate in the U.S. - you aren't going to see the military here participating in gay pride events.

Yeah, becuase the people running the US army have an obsession with its "macho" image, which conforms quite neatly with their homophobic, belligerent, and bigoted worldview.

[F'losrix]

ToonArmyIsComing wrote: Skeptical Mystic wrote: ToonArmyIsComing wrote: This is absolutely amazing. In Britain the Army was actively involved in the Gay Pride parade. Should the US army do something similar?

Personally, I think they are going to do it eventually since the number of new recruits is down drastically and they need new people joining desperately.

Not going to happen. Some people claim that lifting the ban on gay people will actually hurt recruiting and retention given the anti-gay climate in the U.S. - you aren't going to see the military here participating in gay pride events.

It's quite amusing really. They recruit the likes of drug addicts who are not fit to handle a weapon, but then they refuse to accept someone based on something that happens in their bedroom with their partner! :roll:

I like this quote from Sgt. Leonard Matlovich: "They gave me a medal for killing a man, and a discharge for loving one."

[Demonic Spoon]

A gay pride parade is a private thing that the military shouldn't waste funds on participating in.

[ToonArmyIsComing]

Demonic Spoon wrote: A gay pride parade is a private thing that the military shouldn't waste funds on participating in.

The military was doing it as part of a PR campaign to attract people to the army.

[thundertaker]

Ironically, the Royal Navy alone of the three branches didn't particpate........ :shifty:

[Demonic Spoon]

IMHO they're just gonna piss people off

[ToonArmyIsComing]

thundertaker wrote: Ironically, the Royal Navy alone of the three branches didn't particpate........ :shifty:

Sorry not being from the UK, I don't know the significance. Can you explain? :!oops:

[thundertaker]

ToonArmyIsComing wrote: thundertaker wrote: Ironically, the Royal Navy alone of the three branches didn't particpate........ :shifty:

Sorry not being from the UK, I don't know the significance. Can you explain? :!oops:

Let me put it this way:



"Hello Sailor!" etc.......

[ToonArmyIsComing]

thundertaker wrote: ToonArmyIsComing wrote: thundertaker wrote: Ironically, the Royal Navy alone of the three branches didn't particpate........ :shifty:

Sorry not being from the UK, I don't know the significance. Can you explain? :!oops:

Let me put it this way:



"Hello Sailor!" etc.......

Oh, now I get it! I thought you meant something else.

[social]

In the navy!