Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

Army Dismisses Gay Arabic Linguist

The nutshell version of this story is that the Army has recently given an honorable discharge to a gay man who was outed through a series of anonymous emails. The interesting part of this story is that I personally know Former Sgt. Bleu Copas. For those who've already read the story, or seen it featured on The Daily Show, ironically enough, I did community theatre with him a few years ago (some of the articles on this issue state that during his inquisition, he was asked about his involvement with Community Theatre). Despite us being pretty good friends, I never knew he was gay until this incident - I lost touch with him after we did our last show together. All I can say is it's a terrible shame - Bleu is such a talented, big-hearted person. He didn't deserve this at all.

As for my thoughts on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy (DADTP)...according to what I've been reading, it seems that this policy was completely violated - Bleu never disclosed his sexuality, because he was fully aware of the DADTP, but he accepted the discharge apparently to avoid perjury.

Now I'll admit that I'm often a fence-sitter, trying not to be too controversial - I've even avoided posting in these threads because I hate butting heads with people here - but when something like this happens to someone I know and care for, it really burns me up, and I wanted to bring it to more people's attention.

Thoughts?

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Actually Don't Ask, Don't Tell was put in place to protect Homosexuals from their comrades in arms. There are a lot of homophobes. Some of these guys would cause great harm to a person that came out of the closet.

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I agree with you 100% they do have the right to be in the military. HOwever just understand at where I am going here. I'm not saying every homosexual is a flirt. I am just saying that were they to come out it would increase there chances of receiving non-combat wounds of the psyhical and/or mental kind.

I suggest you watch M*A*S*H, specifically the episode titled "George".

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Then the people who would lash out at them should be punished--not the men and women wanting to serve their country, only to be denied because of something they can't help (nor should be judged over).

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The meaning of life is 'bucket.'

FOR PONY!!!

BTG - you're right about the danger that a soldier could be in if he/she admits to being homosexual, however, Sgt. Copas was basically FORCED to out himself. He said nothing about his sexuality going into the military, because he knew the risks, and assumed that the DADTP would protect him. It's just that he wanted to serve his country so much, like most soldiers who enter the Armed Forces. He was outed by someone - and I wish someone would try and investigate that - who wanted to hurt him and his military career, and the Army did nothing to protect him. The only reason Bleu finally outed himself was because he risked perjury, which would have been worse than just accepting an honourable discharge.

The saddest part is this could affect his future because he has to tell his prospective employers WHY he was honorably discharged from the military. Yeah, that makes for a nice interview - not that it should matter, but as we've seen, sometimes what should occur doesn't always happen.

EDIT: Oh - and Magna C. You were talking about trustable sources knowing whether or not he was gay. I think you're still right: from what I've been reading, I'm pretty sure Sgt. Copas never admitted his sexuality to the Army until after his discharge, when he did so to the news sources who interviewed him. Most of the articles say he was asked 47 questions and refused to answer 19 of them (as is his right), and I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that because the military is technically not allowed to ask about your sexuality, I don't think they ever asked him outright during his inquisition. One article I read said that one of his superiors asked him about his sexuality outright before his inquisition, and Bleu was forced to lie because he knew he'd be discharged if he told the truth.

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I don't doubt at all that a homosexual would be in danger in the army. Whether he outed himself or not, or really even whether or not is was true, if others around him were convinced of it, then his health and life could be in danger. Totally sucks, but it's true.

One of my good friends was stabbed with a bayonet in the abdomen during basic just because he is a Mormon. It sucks, but it's true, that if you are just slightest bit different, military service can be a very difficult time.

Most people are decent human beings, but all you need is one jerk out of 500 to put a number of people in danger.

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I view the DADT policy as an unfortunate but necessary compromise. The 1999 murder of Barry Winchell comes to mind. I don't think the American military is ready for openly gay servicepeople just yet. Perhaps in due time.

I find it noteworthy that President Bush has made no effort to repeal DADT. I think he and his advisors realize that they cannot afford any loss of manpower right now.

Mike

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Logical fallacies ahoy! I'd also like to say: graaaaagh!

Good points Mike. I agree with you about the DADT being the best option for right now, until people become more accepting. My problem was that in this case, it seems that it was violated. And I agree with PMG that maybe instead of putting the burden of hiding on our gay servicemen and women that perhaps instead the army should take action against those who would harm them.

It reminds me of school yard bullies - why would we punish the victims and not the perpetrators? I spent the last two years touring to schools all over the country with my theatre troupe and saw that many schools advocated "bully-free zones". Maybe someone should implement "bully-free squadrons"!

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Personally, I think that DADT is an idiotic institution. And here's why.....

It basically dictates that if you're gay, then it's you who has a problem. However, if you're a potentially murderous homophobe, you're prefectly free to join the army as long as there's nothing around you to provoke your murderousness (like a openly gay co-squadie).

Escardon me, but wouldn't the US Army's energy be better spend by weeding out the murderous element at the recruitment stages? Then gay squadies wouldn't have to worry about any dangerous comrades......... and nor would vulnerable civilians in a warzone who'd be at the mercy of the US Army, may I add.

I think that is totally unfair to your friend. I feel for ya, Skee.

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I agree wholeheartedly. [sarcasm]...But don't you know? It's those bigoted murderous homophobes who make the best soldiers! They obviously don't think for themselves and only believe what they are told without question...AND they're trigger-happy and ready to kill! Just what their military superiors want![/sarcasm]

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The meaning of life is 'bucket.'

FOR PONY!!!

Agreed on all points, except for this: Winchell's situation ended in murder, but it was preceeded by months of harassment by many different soldiers. (Wouldn't shock me if some of it came from the officers, too.) Perhaps you could weed out the murderous homophobes, but what about the "regular" homophobes? They don't have to kill you to turn your life into unending misery.

I absolutely agree that DADT focuses the problem on the wrong people. In most ways it seems hopelessly backwards. On another level, however, it is simply common survival sense when faced with the realities of barracks life. It is my hope that as American society overall becomes less homophobic the policy will become unnecessary. Legislation will not accomplish this, however; only a roots-level change in people's attitudes will get the job done.

Mike

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Logical fallacies ahoy! I'd also like to say: graaaaagh!

Sometimes you need legislation to drive the change in attitude. How long would it have taken for segregation to end if it wasn't for legislation? And desegregation wasn't pretty. Ironically, though, it went pretty smoothly in the military and happened earlier there than everywhere else.

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ATTN: LOWER BOARD USERS HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER FORUM. COME JOIN THE FUN!

Oh totally. And the process of weeding out those non-murderous (is that a word?) homophobes is definately easier said than done.

But you know, I don't think they should be in the Army either, and they should be weeded out as far as humanly possible. And not even because they're homophobes per say, but rather because they're not team players - put simply. There's no other situation where being a team player is more vital - you're responsible for the lives of your team, and they're responsible for yours. So if members of a squadron are harassing each other, that whole dynamic goes out the window, and the whole team will fall to disorder.

Stringent discipline is what's needed, and new recruits should be told in no uncertain terms that they will be in teams with a whole spectrum of people - gays, blacks, Latinos, whatever. And if they don't like that, they can get out. Simple as.

If you don't do that, how are you going to create a disciplined, cohesive army?

I like the ways you thinks, WTF. (Uhhh... That sounds peculiar. XD)

There is always a danger from those unwilling to accept diversity, but we need to learn to deal with them. Maybe the military needs its own "Little Rock 5" of a sort--a band of openly gay soldiers defiant of the DADTP, muscling their way into the Army (as it were) and forcing acceptance of them on the others.

The armed forces in general really need to get their pluralist act together. But if you can work together with anybody, nobody can stand against you.

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You look like you need a hug.
*hug*
There, now don't you feel better?

What the heck is "Little Rock 5"?

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The meaning of life is 'bucket.'

FOR PONY!!!

Ummmm, I think I'm getting my history mixed up. I hate it when that sort of thing happens.... Hold on...

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You look like you need a hug.
*hug*
There, now don't you feel better?

I assume you mean the Little Rock Nine?


Anyways, I'm honestly pretty apathetic about the whole situation, as I'm not homosexual and I have no intention of joining the army. Both sides on the issue seem to make valid points.

Regardless of what is "right", it's likely that the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy will remain in place until America can get over its irrational homophobia. I'm not saying that it should remain in place, or that it shouldn't, but it likely will.