I came across an article on CBC regarding gay soldiers marching in the recent Gay Pride Parade in Toronto. The article explains that for the first time ever, gay soldiers were permitted to march in the parade and hold an information kiosk for anyone with questions. For quite some time, the military’s policy regarding gender identity and sexual orientation was ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t tell’. This is in the process of changing because it sends the message that homosexuality is wrong and does not belong in the military. If people want homosexuals to fight for freedom, then should they not be afforded the same freedoms themselves? Is it unfair to ask someone to potentially give their life to the service of a country that doesn’t place as much value on their lives simply because of their sexual orientation? This is a big topic in the news right now and this article demonstrates how it is being supported by some. Pop culture icons, including Lady Gaga, have made headlines recently by promoting the elimination of the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.
It should be mentioned that there is a bias in this article. It conveys the message that the Canadian Forces is an employer of choice but, it also mentions that this is the first time ever that the soldiers have marched in this parade and its 2010! We might have hover cars before the marginalization of homosexuals becomes a shameful thing to look back on in Canadian history. This is a good start of course, but is it enough to make a difference? Are there really changes being implemented for the real gay and lesbian soldiers in their day to day military lives or are these policies just in place to avoid legal proceedings, scrutiny from the media and the resentment of the Canadian public? Is it really justified to congratulate the military on being inclusive just yet? These are questions that came to mind when reading this article. Please let me know your opinion on this article and the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy in the comment box!
Emma Liz
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