Allowing LBGT People Serve Openly and Honestly

There is a similarity between what is going on in the military service and working in the church for LGBTQ people: first, we are not able to serve openly; second, that there has been a great loss of people for the military services and churches that are desirous of growing while losing members; third, that there is a growing openness of LBTQG people to serve in both the military and churches.

Today's op-ed in the WaPo is telling: John Shalikashvili (retired Joint Chief of Staffs Chairman), argues that there is really no reason for why LGBTQ people couldn't serve in the military in the USA. They serve well in other nation's armies. The argument that some retired personnel put forth a few weeks ago show a generation bias against LBTQG people, e.g., calling what we live a "life style choice."

These retired officers are the very same people in the Church who are blocking the ordination of LGBTQ people, using the same tired old, antiquated, biased perspectives.

What has been loss in the military? Read on:

The officers who oppose lifting the ban argued in The Post that there is "no compelling national security reason" to let openly gay troops serve. They also say, however, that "losses of even a few thousand sergeants, petty officers and experienced mid-grade officers" -- those they believe might bolt -- are unaffordable. Under current policy, we have lost more than 13,000 of those people, such as the Arabic language speaker featured in the new film "Ask Not." In addition, researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles have found that nearly 4,000 people leave voluntarily each year because of the ban, and that more than 40,000 recruits might join if the ban is ended.

Likewise in the Church that is losing members: we've lost a generation of pastors, counselors, musicians, educators, etc., because of our societal bias.

It is time to change.

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Pace!

B