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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > February > 10 > Entry
Guest column: Ridding military of gays diminishes our security
This commentary was written by Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an F-15 fighter pilot with the U.S. Air Force who grew up in Huber Heights and is now stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base near Boise, Idaho.
U.S. Sen. John McCain has always been a hero to me, and I’ve voted for U.S. Rep. John Boehner, the House Minority leader who represents my hometown of Huber Heights in Congress. After 18 years of decorated service, I must ask them: Why do you want me kicked out of the U.S. Air Force?
Last April, I faced a military discharge board — basically, a modern-day witch trial — which recommended that I be honorably discharged under the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The board ruled that my “continued presence was detrimental to good order and discipline, morale, and unit cohesion.”
This was not based on any evidence or testimony, but simply on a baseless presumption at the core of this corrupt law — that the mere existence of gay service members is incompatible with effective military operations.
The claim is demonstrably false.
For nine months, I have waited for my discharge to become final, while my career and my life hang in limbo. At the same time, I have hoped and prayed for President Barack Obama to fulfill his campaign promise to end this policy.
Recently it looked as if my prayers might be answered. President Obama proclaimed during his State of the Union address in late January that “this year” he would keep his promise. Just days later, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, testified in a Senate hearing that the policy should end now, because it is “the right thing to do.”
For the first time in history, top military leaders openly supported ending the ban on gays in the military. This was a historic moment. After the hearing, I had never been so proud to wear my uniform. I am proud to serve under the command of Admiral Mullen.
Sadly, some of our leaders, including men I admire like Sen. McCain and Rep. Boehner, resorted to tired, baseless arguments in support of this outdated law. They claimed it’s “working” and it’s “successful.” They further claimed that, in the midst of two wars, “now is not the time” to change the policy.
They could not be more wrong and more out of touch.
Before I was “outed” in May of 2008, I served my country with honor and distinction. I was deployed overseas five times and participated in seven major combat operations. I was highly decorated and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
At the same time, I abided by the rules of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, keeping my private life private, even from my family. Nobody knew anything about my personal life or that I was gay.
After I came out publicly last summer, I continued to serve in the Air Force — in the same job, in the same squadron — as an openly gay man with no negative impact whatsoever.
The law should be changed because it is unconstitutional, discriminatory and denies basic rights of privacy, due process and equal protection to those who defend those rights with their lives.
But it also should change because it actually harms good order and discipline, morale and unit cohesion. It also hurts the combat effectiveness of the military.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” unjustly discharges well-trained, highly skilled, motivated, and combat-seasoned veterans. Discharging dedicated people with critical combat skills — 13,500 of them since the law was put in place — has cost billions. Their skills are lost, the money spent training and preparing them is wasted, and the costs are high to train their replacements. In this way, the law makes us less safe.
So I have a few questions for Rep. Boehner and Sen. McCain. How is this law “working” for me? How is this “successful” for our country? Why is this not the right time? When is the right time? Never?
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Civil Rights, Guest Columns, Locals in national affairs, National Politics
Comments
By James
February 11, 2010 3:35 AM | Link to this
I was a corpsman with the marines and did outstanding job for the navy and prepare for war with the marines. I have save a lot of lives from my training. Only thing was that I was gay. and I did not do any gay stuff on the baces I serve. I was given discharge with general with honor Yet I know other gay men and women who serve their full term. It is high brace are scare of gay people. If they are going to use the Bible to keep gays out, Get all the book on the creation of the Bible and about the early Christian before the Rome Church took over. People have all ways work with gay and lesbian all the time. They should be aloud to serve their county.
By Philman
February 11, 2010 4:41 AM | Link to this
Hurry Hurry step right up be the first in your barracks to have your very own, J. I. JOE- soap on a rope. never be afraid of the showers again.
By parental
February 11, 2010 6:59 AM | Link to this
How do you suppose Lt Col Fehrenbach’s co-workers felt when he was in the shower with them at the gym? Might as well have co-ed showers.
By Philman
February 11, 2010 7:35 AM | Link to this
The Military has a code of ethics, if you are married and are caught commiting Adultry you are booted out, will they have to throw out their code of ethics, what about someone that likes little kids, how Tolerant do we want to be?
By Vet mom
February 11, 2010 9:23 AM | Link to this
I imagine a Lt.Col. usually has his own shower. But if his does shower with co-workers, if he doesn’t behave inappropriately, I doubt they would care. Also, Philman, I’ll bet being kicked out for Adultry is rarely, if ever, enforced.
By Joe
February 11, 2010 9:42 AM | Link to this
I guess DDN is still trying to push the ideal of being perverted down our necks. It’s wrong any way you put it. I would be afraid if my son was in the same outfit with a person who can’t decide what gender he wants to be or that he might rape my son.
By appaled
February 11, 2010 10:40 AM | Link to this
I’m really surprised and upset about these comments, and I expect more from Daytonians…Let’s be clear: if you’ve ever been to gym class at school, or lived in a college dorm, or showered at your local gym, you’ve showered with a gay person. Additionally, the idea that every gay man might rape Joe’s son is as absurd as every straight man in the military trying to rape Joe’s daughter. The bottom line is that we’re talking about people who want to serve their country and defend our freedoms…not get some quicky show in a barracks shower. Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach was criminalized by the military for being who he is, and that is a problem. Gay men and women should be able to openly serve in the military, especially if the top military leadership indicate (which they have) that they should.
By Bob540
February 11, 2010 3:02 PM | Link to this
Question: Would it be Ok if men and women showered together, if everyone behaved “appropriately”? What is “appropriate”? Is it OK to look up and down the person showering next to you? Is smiling/laughing/winking OK? How about “umm umm umm!”? A lot a women don’t want to exercise in the presence of men. Would it be “silly” if they (or the men) did not want that coed shower? Is it then “silly” if straight men don’t want to shower with gay men? What is the difference?
By fortressdayton
February 11, 2010 7:30 PM | Link to this
How do you feel when the gay guy makes your sandwich at Subway? Or when the lesbian finalizes your mortgage? What about the gay priest that tells you on Sundays that two men living together is a sin? You have no idea how many gay hands touch your food, your tickets, your precious cars and belongings. Even the Israelis allow gays to serve…force them to serve actually, because their existence depends on it. There is a gay or lesbian soldier out there right now defending your right to be a bigot.
By Oh Bob
February 12, 2010 10:21 AM | Link to this
Bob, the difference is…most of the men and women serving right now say they dont care if they serve with someone who is gay or lesbian. Get it?! Its only you and a minority who are homophobic and actually care! so for the few who care, they can request a special shower arrangement if they have a problem. Your ridiculous arguments that gay men and women who serve somehow are there to have sex and gauk at people in the shower rather than simply take a shower to get clean like everyone else is absurd and simply shows your prejudice and ignorance. They are already showering together, and on sports teams and in colleges as well. There is no sex crazed gay person trying to rape anyone. Most gay people are just as professional and respectful as their straight counterparts and wouldnt engage in any inappropriate behavior. You and people who make ignorant comments need to get educated. And seriously think before you speak. Its offensive. Another difference is that women and men have never showered together, gay men and straight men have always showered together with no problems. showering has always been separated by biological sex, not by attraction. And there is no need to change that. There is no evidence of a problem.
By Duh!
February 12, 2010 10:30 AM | Link to this
They are already showering and working side by side with openly gay service men and women from the other Western countries who allow their gay men and women to serve without lying. So …guess what?! there have been no rapes or inappropriate actions happening to straight men by gay men. Gay men are not staring and making anyone uncomfortable. Wow! Imagine that! seriously…grow up…some of you need to ask yourself why you are so obsessed with every gay chat there is? are you having an internal conflict? if so, those feelings of attraction to the same sex are best just accepted rather than repressed and taking them out on everyone else.
By Quentin
February 12, 2010 2:25 PM | Link to this
OK, several points to make here. First, yes they still boot you for adultry and I have seen it done even to guys who didn’t know the woman was married to another service member who was deployed. Military said it didn’t matter and he SHOULD have known just because she had a base sticker. Also Bob has a good point. Yes we all know that not all men will be attreactive to a gay male or all women will be attractive to a gay female but it really is no different than saying we should have co-ed showers, rooms and etc. And yes there have been cases of rape by gays and lesbian service members on strait members which also show a serious problem with our system. If someone is raped by them they also risk being kicked out under don’t ask, don’t tell. I personally could care less if someone is gay or not and knew several who were gay when I was in. No problems with them since they were professional and good people. But these are issues we need to address by allowing gays to serve openly and to deny these issues claiming bringing them up is hate or anything else is just avoiding the issues for a bias instead of constructivly addressing them.
By Quentin
February 12, 2010 2:30 PM | Link to this
Also since I wanted to keep it seperate and not go over space limits, Semper Fi and thanks James for your helping us Jarheads! Always gave props to the Corpsmen!
By Brutus
February 13, 2010 11:30 PM | Link to this
I’d like to share a shower room with several women. I promise to behave appropriately.
By Bob540
February 15, 2010 4:20 PM | Link to this
Hey folks, who is pressing this issue? It is not heterosexuals. It is homosexuals who are dissatisfied with the status quo and, like the ban on “gay” marriage, are pushing for change. It is not MY obsession with the gay issues — it is gay folks that keep pushing their agendas, and I simply respond. And saying it is different, men with men in compromising situations vs. men with women, is inherently dishonest. Men are men. If straight men are around naked women, they are going to ogle them. To say that gay men can be around nude men and not ogle them is inherently false. It goes against common sense of how men operate. Next false claim?
By Kris
February 18, 2010 2:40 PM | Link to this
Philman, your argument for upholding a code of ethics within the armed forces is a flawed one. You inaccurately equate ACTIONS (adultery, child molestation) with STATES OF BEING/IDENTITY (homosexuality, heterosexuality). I agree that a code of ethics should be upheld and enforced within the U.S. armed services, but don’t try to convince me and other readers that openly identifying oneself is punishable in the same vein as molesting a child or cheating on your wife/husband. Your discriminatory claim is an insult to readers’ intelligence.
By Cathy
February 20, 2010 1:41 PM | Link to this
Kudos to the ones who flew into the IRS building and bulldozed his home. While I do not advocate violence and certainly don’t want to see innocent people hurt, the government needs to listen to our cries “We won’t take it anymore!” American people are tired of the abuse and of the government thinking we are like blind sheep. These types of incidents will become more and more frequent and you cannot prosecute an entire nation of revolting peoples. If things do not change, I foresee another American Revolution!
By Quentin
February 20, 2010 7:19 PM | Link to this
Kris, so would you feel OK living, showering and everything else with people of the opposite gender as has been repeatedly pointed out is the issue or are the insults and attempts to distract your argument? This has been asked repeatedly of those who believe in the idea but NONE have answered.