The top US Marine on Tuesday said most Marines would prefer not to share a room with gay comrades, despite plans by President Barack Obama to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the military.
General James Conway, who has made clear his opposition to ending the ban, said if the law is changed the Marine Corps might look for volunteers willing to share quarters with gays as some “very religious” members objected to rooming with homosexuals.
“I can tell you that an overwhelming majority would like not to be roomed with a person who is openly homosexual,” Conway told a Pentagon press conference.
“Some do not object. And perhaps, you know, perhaps a voluntary basis might be the best way to start without violating anybody’s sense of moral concern or a perception on the part of their mates,” he said.
He added that “in some instances we will have people that say that homosexuality is wrong and they simply do not want to room with a person of that persuasion because it would go against their religious beliefs.”
Conway has made no secret of his views on lifting the ban on openly gay troops and his remarks will likely be seized on by opponents of the move in Congress.
The top US Marine on Tuesday said most Marines would prefer not to share a room with gay comrades, despite plans by President Barack Obama to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the military.
General James Conway, who has made clear his opposition to ending the ban, said if the law is changed the Marine Corps might look for volunteers willing to share quarters with gays as some “very religious” members objected to rooming with homosexuals.
“I can tell you that an overwhelming majority would like not to be roomed with a person who is openly homosexual,” Conway told a Pentagon press conference.
“Some do not object. And perhaps, you know, perhaps a voluntary basis might be the best way to start without violating anybody’s sense of moral concern or a perception on the part of their mates,” he said.
He added that “in some instances we will have people that say that homosexuality is wrong and they simply do not want to room with a person of that persuasion because it would go against their religious beliefs.”
Conway has made no secret of his views on lifting the ban on openly gay troops and his remarks will likely be seized on by opponents of the move in Congress.
I call BS on this one. Marines love gays and gays love them right back.
What should the military policy be in ending don’t ask/tell? It took the full decade after WWII for the US military to achieve full racial integration. Today should the command just announce to the troops that they are now fully mixed in orientation and everything else and the troops are ordered to like it? Or what? Some kind of “sensitivity” or anti-harassment campaign? That could be a mess. How would you make the change?
I call BS on this one. Marines love gays and gays love them right back.
What should the military policy be in ending don’t ask/tell? It took the full decade after WWII for the US military to achieve full racial integration. Today should the command just announce to the troops that they are now fully mixed in orientation and everything else and the troops are ordered to like it? Or what? Some kind of “sensitivity” or anti-harassment campaign? That could be a mess. How would you make the change?
I don’t think it’s a big deal to anyone under 35. It’s the older top brass and noncoms who are so vigorously opposed to it. Change the policy and people will adapt to it; if they can’t adapt, drum THEM out of the service. Our military will be better for it, just as it was when women were allowed to serve.
Not a big deal to anyone under 35? Drum THEM out of the service? That’s crazy talk.
Oh yeah, because lord knows we nor are our Republican kids serving, hehehehehe!!!
A couple conservative buddies of mine are currently serving their 2nd tour in Iraq. One’s a listener to Glen Beck’s radio show. Not sure if they’re party affiliation is Republicans, but they are certainly conservatives.
One of Bobby Jindal’s 4th Floor staffers served in Iraq as a Marine.
Not a big deal to anyone under 35? Drum THEM out of the service? That’s crazy talk.
Oh yeah, because lord knows we nor are our Republican kids serving, hehehehehe!!!
A couple conservative buddies of mine are currently serving their 2nd tour in Iraq. One’s a listener to Glen Beck’s radio show. Not sure if they’re party affiliation is Republicans, but they are certainly conservatives.
One of Bobby Jindal’s 4th Floor staffers served in Iraq as a Marine.
I liked it back when EVERYONE had a personal stake in fighting a war. KR is right--there are too many soft, fat bellicose republicans (aka neocon chicken hawks).
Not a big deal to anyone under 35? Drum THEM out of the service? That’s crazy talk.
Oh yeah, because lord knows we nor are our Republican kids serving, hehehehehe!!!
A couple conservative buddies of mine are currently serving their 2nd tour in Iraq. One’s a listener to Glen Beck’s radio show. Not sure if they’re party affiliation is Republicans, but they are certainly conservatives.
One of Bobby Jindal’s 4th Floor staffers served in Iraq as a Marine.
I liked it back when EVERYONE had a personal stake in fighting a war. KR is right--there are too many soft, fat bellicose republicans (aka neocon chicken hawks).
Not to be confused with the soft,fat, lazy dimocrats.
Not a big deal to anyone under 35? Drum THEM out of the service? That’s crazy talk.
Oh yeah, because lord knows we nor are our Republican kids serving, hehehehehe!!!
A couple conservative buddies of mine are currently serving their 2nd tour in Iraq. One’s a listener to Glen Beck’s radio show. Not sure if they’re party affiliation is Republicans, but they are certainly conservatives.
One of Bobby Jindal’s 4th Floor staffers served in Iraq as a Marine.
I liked it back when EVERYONE had a personal stake in fighting a war. KR is right--there are too many soft, fat bellicose republicans (aka neocon chicken hawks).
Yeah, geez, what were Republicans thinking running this chicken hawk for President against the brave Barack Obama?
Good point.. Do you really wish to take the side of mooslems, who would kill you in a heartbeat big??
I may not be the brightest bulb on the tree, but I know not to support the people who want to kill me.. I also know the difference between chit and shinola.
