Gays in the U.S. Military Fight a Personal Battle

“For Gays, Secrecy in Love, War” (April 17) describes the plight of “closeted” gays in the military and the life companions they left behind during the Iraq war, exposing the hypocrisy of the government’s policy of discharging military personnel known to be gay. The Pentagon claims that uncloseted gays cannot serve in the military because that would undermine troop morale and destroy the spirit of teamwork needed for an effective fighting force.

Our troops are fighting alongside British forces that include openly gay soldiers and officers. In NATO, 13 nations allow gays to serve openly in the military. Why is it OK for U.S. forces to fight at the side of gays in the troops of other nations, and even take orders from gay officers from those nations, while it is wrong for a U.S. soldier to fight at the side of a gay U.S. soldier?

David E. Ross

Oak Park

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It’s truly a shame that gay soldiers have to live in such secrecy, especially in communicating with their partners at home. While we’re not recognized in marriage, many of us are as close to it as we can get.

How can the U.S. military be so advanced in many areas, yet so primitive in others? I would love to see all gay soldiers come home to their partners’ open arms, tears and kisses, for all of us to see. Maybe then the Pentagon would wake up and get over it. Because what gay military families have to endure is anything but American.

Ryan R. Sanderson

Los Angeles

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Jen’s claim, in your article, that she revealed her lesbian sexual orientation after graduation from the Naval Academy “for reasons of integrity” rings utterly hollow. Had this woman possessed a shred of integrity, she would not have enrolled at Annapolis in the first place and cheated taxpayers out of a quarter-million-dollar education.

Colin O’Neil

Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

Northern Persian Gulf

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“Suicide Too Frequently a Foe for Military” (April 16) missed an opportunity to address homophobia in the military as a likely cause of many suicides. A high percentage of suicide attempts (and successes) by the nation’s youth spring from the lack of acceptance and support for gay people in society at large. It doesn’t take much insight to imagine what a young gay Marine goes through.

Walter Schlosser

Los Angeles