Issue: Should President Clinton Lift the Ban on Gays Serving in the Military?

Yvelyne Poulard, Los Angeles

“No. . . . I don’t think that it is right for them (to serve. . . . The military is) supposed to help that person first to see what kind of problems they have to be homosexual before they give that person that big responsibility.”

John Rollins, Army veteran “They should be given the opportunity. That’s really what the world is all about. I think that we have lived in that old boys club too long. Prior to the Civil Rights Act and what have you, (African-Americans) didn’t have anything because of the fact people could look at us and tell that we were different. But all we were looking for was an opportunity. That is the same with these people.

James Haley, Los Angeles “No. One thing, nothing against gays, but that could cause chaos. For one thing, men (are going) to be in close quarters like that with each other and knowing that they are gay, that’s going to cause problems. Guys might look at you funny. They may want to have sex with me. A lot of times men take showers together and if a guy who is gay is next to me, he might be attracted to me. Some people don’t have control over themselves. That could cause a problem.”

Jackie Mack, Los Angeles “I’ve had mixed feelings about it. I don’t have anything personally against gays. Your sexual preference is your business. But I feel that in the military, they have a job to do. Putting someone openly gay in there is going to create a lot of confusion. They are there to serve the country, to get a job done. In case of a war, we don’t need any extra distractions.”