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Citizens sound off on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal
Posted: 12.22.2010 at 10:28 PM
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President Obama signed the bill repealing the military policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” allowing gays to now serve openly in the military 
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An army veteran says serving with gay soldiers didn't bother him; others say it causes cultural consequences, military backlash

ALBANY, GA -- Army veteran Curtis Dixon says he doesn’t have a strong opinion either way about gays now being able to serve openly in the military.

“I’ve served in the U.S. Army and I have served with people that are gay. It didn’t bother me,” he says

President Obama signed the bill repealing the military policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” allowing gays to now serve openly in the military.

“As far as the battlefield, a soldier is affected in the same ways. They experience feelings and everything so it’s nothing no different,” says Dixon.

But others feel it will cause cultural conflict.

“It’s going to cause the gays problems and their biggest problem is going against the Lord,” says citizen Gloria Faye Williams.

Many citizens expressed a religious concern with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“Being a homosexual is an abomination onto the Lord,” says Abigail Meadows. “If people at the army allows people to have standards, morals and ethics that are less than what the scriptures tell us, our country is indeed in trouble.”

Meadows also says is an agenda and manifesto among the gay community to attain more rights.

“Somehow the media has taken this lifestyle and so engrained in everyday life that we see it homosexuality and we think it’s okay,” she says.

While some citizens say they’re concerned about the cultural consequences, they also say they’re worried about how this will affect gay soldiers.

“When they’re in the military there are some that would really… it’ll make it hard for them because other people … they are against it. A lot of them will be against it and give them a very hard time,” says Williams.

But Dixon says on the battlefield, comradery is the only focus.

“When soldiers get together they become what we call ‘Battle Buddies’ and they learn to watch each other’s back. If you trust that person then you’re going to trust him on the battlefield or off the battlefield,” says Dixon.

Some say sexual orientation should be personal.

“If you are gay and then somebody asks, if you decide to tell it you tell it. If they don’t ask, keep it to yourself,” says citizen Adarious Gibbs.

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