But a gay man who stands at 6 foot 7, able to bench 280 pounds, with 20/20 vision should be disqualified?
If I'm in a burning building and a firefighter pulls me out... I really don't care if he's got a wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend. That's his private business.
How does the man's sexuality affect the day-to-day operations and environment? Would it be similar to having men and women serving in these close and intimate quarters? The difference being the level of nonacceptance for any homosexual advances. And if male/female counterparts can flirt, what happens with unwanted male/male flirting?
You are making me remember the report that I read. It did include the STD's leaving a solider inactive. Hmmmm, where did I read that?! I can't remember!
Where to draw the line? Deadly disease is a good place to start - Aids.
You are now presenting an assumption that because "homosexuals have a higher rate of contracting HIV" that "All/or most homosexuals HAVE HIV."
If I am bashed, it will not be because I am trying to force an agenda or my life style on anyone but because that person has an issue with homosexuals. My goal is help foster understanding by answering questions openly and honestly by sharing my story.
Yes, my story is not unique among gays - it is unfortunately all too common.
Does any reasonable adult think that someone would "choose" to be attracted to the same gender, especially when that person has been raised Pentecostal? Why would someone "choose" to go to hell?
As to the military policy, there is a lot of back story that I am afraid I couldn't squeeze into one single post so I will attempt to be succinct.
I do not and have not served in the military so I can only answer from personal experience as a civilian. I think the driving force behind allowing gay military personnel to "come out of the closet" so to speak is the need to be open and honest about who they are.
I have known since I was 11 that I was attracted to my gender. I have suppressed that desire and have tried to be the person that my parents, my church family, my siblings, my children, and society wanted me to be. Pretending to be something you are not requires great amounts of energy and time and that effort comes at a cost. It wears you down. You get tired of trying to be something you are not, of trying to "fit in". You get to the point where you become angry, even militant in some cases, because you are not free to be who you are.
It's no different in the military, perhaps even worse because as least as a civilian, I cannot be fired from my job because I happen to be gay.
As to the fears of some about showering with others who might be attracted to them, you can stop worrying about it. If you are going to a gym and using their shower facilities you can be sure that you are showering with a homosexual. We are everywhere.
Have you been accosted in a shower? I would bet not as we are very good at knowing who is family and who is not. We have to be. I am sure there are isolated events but by and large you can forget it, we're not going to try and convert you or come unto to you.
As to the opinion that homosexuality is a mental illness you may be surprised to learn that I can agree in part to this. It is my personal opinion that some gays are gay because of a troubled childhood. But I also believe that there are others who are born this way. I know I cannot convince you of that and rest assured you are never going to convince me otherwise because I know in my heart of hearts that I am one of the ones who cannot change - I had tried for MANY years.
I hope this helps NOW.
Thanks for posting, Azzan.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
You don't get it. The Red Cross says no to homosexuals. Not just gays that claimed they wore protection because people lie. They say no. They do ask.
They also are not stupid. They don't do blood tests and say ok to the sodomites. They just say no.
Heterosexual men can get hiv just as easily as homosexual men can. If hiv and its associated costs are the real reason you do not want homosexuals serving in the military, then it makes no sense to allow anyone that can contract hiv to serve in the military, based on your logic.
azzan, have you been baptized in water and in spirit? has that helped any? some people are destined to live single lives. have you considered that as an option?
Yes, I was baptized and filled with the HG for many years. It did not help. Even when I was active in church and was used in the gifts of the spirit (tongues, interpretation of tongues and even prophecy), the attraction to my gender never, ever left me. It was always there.
I have been living alone for the past 6 years. It is a lonely existence and not what I desire for the rest of my life. I have come to accept that I am who I am and this is what God has for me. If I do find a partner some day I will not hesitate to embrace that opporuntity. I know some of you will be horrified to hear that, so be it.
I don't want to hijack the thread and make this all about me...
If I am bashed, it will not be because I am trying to force an agenda or my life style on anyone but because that person has an issue with homosexuals. My goal is help foster understanding by answering questions openly and honestly by sharing my story.
Yes, my story is not unique among gays - it is unfortunately all too common.
Does any reasonable adult think that someone would "choose" to be attracted to the same gender, especially when that person has been raised Pentecostal? Why would someone "choose" to go to hell?
As to the military policy, there is a lot of back story that I am afraid I couldn't squeeze into one single post so I will attempt to be succinct.
I do not and have not served in the military so I can only answer from personal experience as a civilian. I think the driving force behind allowing gay military personnel to "come out of the closet" so to speak is the need to be open and honest about who they are.
I have known since I was 11 that I was attracted to my gender. I have suppressed that desire and have tried to be the person that my parents, my church family, my siblings, my children, and society wanted me to be. Pretending to be something you are not requires great amounts of energy and time and that effort comes at a cost. It wears you down. You get tired of trying to be something you are not, of trying to "fit in". You get to the point where you become angry, even militant in some cases, because you are not free to be who you are.
It's no different in the military, perhaps even worse because as least as a civilian, I cannot be fired from my job because I happen to be gay.
As to the fears of some about showering with others who might be attracted to them, you can stop worrying about it. If you are going to a gym and using their shower facilities you can be sure that you are showering with a homosexual. We are everywhere.
Have you been accosted in a shower? I would bet not as we are very good at knowing who is family and who is not. We have to be. I am sure there are isolated events but by and large you can forget it, we're not going to try and convert you or come unto to you.
As to the opinion that homosexuality is a mental illness you may be surprised to learn that I can agree in part to this. It is my personal opinion that some gays are gay because of a troubled childhood. But I also believe that there are others who are born this way. I know I cannot convince you of that and rest assured you are never going to convince me otherwise because I know in my heart of hearts that I am one of the ones who cannot change - I had tried for MANY years.
I hope this helps NOW.
Wow. Thanks for sharing your heart.
I felt silly asking about the shower, but that seems to be the main objection early on in this thread. I think there are those that view gays as animals who jump everything that passes by and I think that stereotype is ridiculous. I'm sure you're familiar with the, "Be careful around him, he's gay" attitude.
For example, a friend of ours who occasionally comes to visit, is gay. He's been a friend for decades. But when certain people found out he was staying in our home, the phone rang with warnings for us to be careful about letting our boys around him. I was shocked by it all...I'm a bit naive, I suppose.
I don't say that to drudge up bad memories, but to call attention to the preconceived ideals many have about certain groups of people.
When you said, "You are very good at knowing who is family and who is not", do you mean your....slang term...."Gaydar"? I've been told by gay people they can "spot their own". I've been assured over and over not to worry about being "hit on", so I think a lot of guys that worry about another man jumping them are victims of a stereotype that has been passed around.
I have never talked to a gay person who says they would choose what they are. I'm sure there are those who would, but I haven't met them yet. The bias can be ugly. Who would want that?
You don't need to convince me that you were born that way. I agree with you. And yes, there are many that have suffered sexual abuse as a child which can lead to a mental illness, but certainly, to issue a blanket statement that all gays are mentally ill would not be an accurate statement, true?
Let me ask you this....you say it's not possible to change. What about those who would suggest that it is possible to overcome while not totally changing? I'm speaking of those who would suggest that, just as a heterosexual married man may have temptations to sleep with another woman, he does not, and instead, continues to be with his wife. Do you feel that has any legitimacy?
azzan, have you been baptized in water and in spirit? has that helped any? some people are destined to live single lives. have you considered that as an option?
How does the man's sexuality affect the day-to-day operations and environment? Would it be similar to having men and women serving in these close and intimate quarters? The difference being the level of nonacceptance for any homosexual advances. And if male/female counterparts can flirt, what happens with unwanted male/male flirting?
Comparing a gay male and a straight male working closely together with a straight male and a straight woman working together is comparing apples to oranges.
A gay is not going to approach, or flirt, with a straight.
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