graduate of the US Military Academy (West Point).
My position on this issue is simple: I didn't choose my sexual orientation, so it's intuitive to me that gays & lesbians didn't choose theirs either. The inference is that sexual orientation is inherent to who you are. And the United States should be better than judging you on what you are rather than on what you do; therefore, sexual orientation should have no bearing on the ability to serve in the military.
Admittedly, this view wasn't accepted all that well among my fellow servicemen & women. I admit that changing the law and letting admitted gays & lesbians serve will affect morale. So, what - we'll get over it just like we overcame the resistance to racial integration. After an initial dip, it recovers and we are the stronger for it.
But there also is the UCMJ, specifically punitive article 125, Sodomy. It includes BJs, eating out and anal sex. On paper, it applies to heterosexual acts as well and I advised my wife to not discuss anything that may or may not have happened in our bedroom. Sodomy carries various maximum punishments:
With consent:
- partner at least 16 - Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years
- with a child 12-15 - Prison time jumps to 20 years. This is the same for intercourse and brings the old saying "15 will get you 20"
-
with a child under 12 - life without parole
Any age by force and without consent - life without parole
Why is this significant? Because without changing the UCMJ, the only legal sex available to gay & lesbian service members would be hand-jobs & vibrators. Meanwhile, we straight folk can hump until exhaustion with no legal consequences. Equity requires a change - and I really would like to see BJs made legal for everyone.