Barry Lynn
Minister, lawyer, activist

Barry Lynn

Rev. Barry Lynn is a ordained minister in the United Church of Chris, a lawyer, and Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

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Opposition to DADT is all about religion

Despite public and military support for overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the legislation which bans openly gay service members, political, military and religious leaders cite a variety of objections to changing the law.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) worries that allowing gays to serve openly would impact troop "morale;" Marine Corp Commandant Gen. James Amos says that a policy change may affect "unit cohesion" and "combat effectiveness." Among the religious leaders opposed to overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell is Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy J. Broglio, who fears that chaplains would be forced to compromise their principles in accepting "objectively disordered" homosexuality, adding that he "can never condone -even silently -homosexual behavior."


What beliefs are behind banning gays in the military? What's the role of religion in this debate?

Senator John McCain calls keeping gays from open service in the military necessary for "morale"; while Marine Commandant General James Amos says permitting gays to serve will damage "unit cohesion," Enough with the euphemisms, please! Opposition to dismantling "don't ask, don't tell" is all about fundamentalist, homophobic, Bible verse "cherry picking." Indeed a recent poll shows that most Americans have already decoded the rhetoric and know this battle is all about religious persuasion.


Those military chaplains who can't bring themselves to affirm the nature (dare I say "God given nature") of gay and lesbian service members would best serve us all by seeking employment elsewhere, rather than try to bend policy to the dictates of their interpretation of scripture. It was perhaps the late Senator Barry Goldwater, "Mr. Conservative", who summed up this debate best: "You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight."

By Barry Lynn  |  November 16, 2010; 10:52 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
Previous: It's DADT that's immoral - not homosexuality | Next: "Morale" and "unit cohesion" are real questions

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In a nutshell, this is what it's all about.

Thank you, Rev. Lynn, for laying out this debate so clearly.

Posted by: haveaheart | November 18, 2010 12:53 PM
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Amazing, No Grace!

SEX iS NOt-LOVE! {LiFE is LOVE}. The rest is Pleasure, Fantasy, Hormones..

i[WE] are not too sure if DADT should be repealed. There is an "inherent Danger" for being too open in the military via "Gay" personal.

RECOMMENDATION: They Should Be Separated. Yes "G" Units should then be Segregated from "S"traight Brigades.

AS a Cub-Scout, Boy-Scout, Military High School'r , U.S. Merchant Mariner & via Mercenary work & as an ex-International Smuggler, experience d of many and Master of None; and now

Talkin about "F" TROOP" or "A" TEAM etc.. So lets think here about the "G"-TROOP" mentality or perspective which 'DADT' shall apply.. We shall ask,

DO WE CLOSE the MILITARYs Revolving Door (a "Volunteer" Army entirely to ALL GAYS for fear that they too open to allow them to brag or boast that they are "G"?

This ? should be left to The Generals & Rule-Makers, not to Theocrats nor Gay's advocates. They both want ATTENTION or Want to Make Money over this Moral? or iMORAL question. But The PENTAGON and da Congress must Think NATIONAL SECURITY 1st, Not SEX Preference or Sex Orientaion Security 1st! sorry. Ye see,

The History of our Almighty U.S. military is rife with "Segregation" or "Discrimination" of some ethnic "Outfit" or "Special group" etc.. EXAMPLE:

America, in the Beginning of Colonization has had it's "MINUTE MEN [i.e., Sons of Liberty, Paul Revere et al]", "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN [Negro Pilots of WW2]", "CODE TALKERS [Navajo/Comanche Unit of WW2]" et al: ANd Since "G" TEAM or "G" TROOPS or their Advocates

'Equate' [Demeaning] a "G"ay or its ORIENTATION or 'Preference' as being tantamount to RACISM? or demeaning of "G" platoon/Unit folks is equated with HUMANRIGHTS violations etc.. OYE...!

Think about This: The most "DANGEROUS" part about Repealing DADT can have a open "HONEY-TRAP" effect on unsuspecting "G" Military Personnel via unsuspecting Encounters via "G" Romances with "THE-ENEMY" . Example:

If a Openly Gay Airman Goes to a Gay Bar in Christopher Street, N.Y. C. or Even in KARACHi [GAY-BAR] that he or she can spill secrets if picked-up by a Foreign Gay-Agent and gets Satisfied beyond Fantasyiation. OR

A Russian male None-STRAIGHT'r [secret Agent, SPY] or a Chinese or Ishlami agents etc. can have a 13" Tool (or like a Weapon) between his/her legs. And of course using their experienced Tongues etc TO INFILTRATE.

RECOMMENDATION: DON't Fix What Is Not Broken and Leave "DON't A D T" as is. There is only 2-Options:

1) best Recruit or USE "G" TROOPS to Infiltrate Foreign Enemy "G" AGENTS Nationals or Locals. Note, ARABS & Afghani's military are the Best to Infiltrate, they are into Big Tools & Sexual Fantasy.

2) ELIMINATE "G"ays into the Military Altogether. Note: Training Them can always back fire if they wanted to set-up their own private armys against Straights.

PS: There's a Saying "NEVER VOLUNTEER" [In the Army].

Posted by: woodstock-41 | November 16, 2010 5:23 PM
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DADT, religion won't compromise
While Senator John McCain at one point seemed open to the idea of leading the Republican charge against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, he now cowers to the Religious Right on this issue. Even though his wife and daughter have been vocal in support of gay rights, religion still affects politics especially within the Republican Party.

The fact is that gays are already serving in the military covertly. This is what the DADT policy promises. It seems to me that this would have an even more devastating affect on the small percentage of troops who are still homophobic. They have no idea if the person next to them is gay or straight. They must be terribly paranoid at the possibility that while showering with other in their unit, that a secret gay might be… well, secretly admiring their “unit.”

You can read the rest of my response to this topic:
http://exm.nr/bMOWCW

I will be responding to every issue posted in the 'On Faith' section. If you would like to be notified when my new response is up, please subscribe.

Posted by: dangeroustalk | November 16, 2010 2:31 PM
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Who cares what Jesus said two thousand years ago when folks knew nothing, were illiterate, untraveled, and believed every superstition going the rounds? That's assuming that Jesus even existed.

We know so much more today than the ancients ever knew. It is absurd to believe that they knew anything that we moderns don't know. They invented gods to explain what they did not understand; and they did not understand anything except the basic skills of hunting and gathering, procreating and staying alive. In those days - stupidity ruled. Let's not forget that.

Posted by: Rongoklunk | November 16, 2010 11:37 AM
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I don't know what John McCain's "religion" is; but, Jesus said that if a man got a divorce and then got remarried, that was adultery.

Jesus also didn't approve a a single person marrying a divorced person. He said to do that would be adultery, too.

Posted by: joe_allen_doty | November 16, 2010 11:10 AM
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