Even before President Obama signed the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell today, I've been hearing objections from conservatives that "now our straight servicemembers will have to shower with homosexuals." Like, the repeal of DADT means we're now going to usher in the new homosexual brigade and dump them naked on our straight men and women in the showers and make everyone too scared to undress in the lockers ever again.
Well, I've got news for you, people. The repeal of DADT means our servicemembers will have to shower with the exact same people they have already been showering with for the past year, or two years, or five years, or however long they've been in the service. In other words, they have already been showering with homosexuals. The only difference is that because DADT has been repealed, the threat of being kicked out of the military for having one's sexual orientation revealed relieves the gay serviceperson from the pressure of having to keep quiet about his or her identity. As a result, this may increase the likelihood that he or she would make their gay identity known to others. On the other hand, the gay individual might just choose to keep quiet about it, while enjoying greater peace of mind knowing that being outed won't bring dire consequences. Other than that, everything goes on as usual.
Servicemembers who fought in the Gulf War showered with homosexuals. Same with those who served in Vietnam, in the Korean War, in World War II, and as far back as the history of locker room showers goes. High school football players shower with homosexuals. College kids living in the dorms shower with homosexuals. NBA superstars shower with homosexuals. Considering how much peaceful showering with homosexuals goes on every day all over the country, it would appear that gay men and women have been handling themselves appropriately in America's locker rooms. Why should it be any different in the military, just because the homosexuals that people are already showering with are no longer being forced into the closet under the threat of expulsion?
