Pentagon lists homosexuality as disorder

[Guns R Cool]

WASHINGTON -
A Pentagon document classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder, decades after mental health experts abandoned that position.

The document outlines retirement or other discharge policies for service members with physical disabilities, and in a section on defects lists homosexuality alongside mental retardation and personality disorders.

Critics said the reference underscores the Pentagon's failing policies on gays, and adds to a culture that has created uncertainty and insecurity around the treatment of homosexual service members, leading to anti-gay harassment.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jeremy M. Martin said the policy document is under review.

The Pentagon has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but requires discharges of those who openly acknowledge being gay.

The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, at the University of California at Santa Barbara, uncovered the document and pointed to it as further proof that the military deserves failing grades for its treatment of gays.

Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the center, said, "The policy reflects the department's continued misunderstanding of homosexuality and makes it more difficult for gays and lesbians to access mental health services."

The document, called a Defense Department Instruction, was condemned by medical professionals, members of Congress and other experts, including the American Psychiatric Association.

"It is disappointing that certain
Department of Defense instructions include homosexuality as a 'mental disorder' more than 30 years after the mental health community recognized that such a classification was a mistake," said Rep. Marty Meehan (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass.

Congress members noted that other Pentagon regulations dealing with mental health do not include homosexuality on any lists of psychological disorders. And in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday, nine lawmakers asked for a full review of all documents and policies to ensure they reflect that same standard.

"Based on scientific and medical evidence the APA declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973 — a position shared by all other major health and mental health organizations based on their own review of the science," James H. Scully Jr., head of the psychiatric association, said in a letter to the Defense Department's top doctor earlier this month.

There were 726 military members discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy during the budget year that ended last Sept. 30. That marked the first year since 2001 that the total had increased. The number of discharges had declined each year since it peaked at 1,227 in 2001, and had fallen to 653 in 2004

Source: Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060620/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_gays;_ylt=AoodZ32JbiykRJIkJgQDQlWs0NUE;_y lu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-) (I posted the entire article because you need to be a member of Yahoo to see the article)

[RightisRightLeftisWrong]

lmao! It is a mental disorder has the Pentagon declared Liberalism a mental disorder aswell?

[shotdrops286]

Since liberals are taking over in November. . .might be a little premature.

that might be a little premature as well.

[Guns R Cool]

Since liberals are taking over in November. . .might be a little premature.

I bet you said the same damn thing two years ago.

[FKLBRLS]

Well since liberals are taking over, should I take every luxury item in my house and put it out on the street with a huge "free" sign on it. I mean it is unfair that evil capitalist pigs have such things as air conditioners and TVs and good clothes and computers, clearly I don't care enough. Also since my being Christian constitutes "hate speech," I should probably be ready to get rid of that too.

Homosexuality IS a mental disorder. I have known it all along. It was declassified 30 years ago, probably after enough of them bitched. It would be no different if a bunch of serial killers say, "we're not insane, we just have a different life choice." Or if a bunch of schizophrenics say, "we're not insane, we're just different. Stop being so intolerant." And as a result the guy at the counter at Mc. Donalds keeps wanting to serve the (nonexistant) FBI agents standing by you. But hey, we're tolerant now, right?

[stilljammin]

It's idiots like the guy who posted above me that make me lose any remaining faith in the human race. If homosexuality is a mental disorder, then conservatism is in a whole new league of retardation.

Homosexuality is a mental disorder as compared to what? Heterosexuality? The only reason why they call this a "mental disorder," is because common culture tells us that homosexuality is obviously a sin! The douchebags in the government call a sexual preference a mental disorder? Hah. I don't even know why the government is in on sexual preference issues. Right wing nuts want to legislate their own tastes into law, that's not democracy, last time I checked. I think that an old man and a young woman having sex is icky and nasty! I think that no one should ever have this type of sex!!!

Bottom line is, anyone who believes that gay marriage is wrong and wants it banned is immature and can't deal with differences in sex. I don't like the thought of 2 gay guys going at it, but that doesn't mean that I should take away from their civil liberties because I have a preference towards the opposite sex.

I don't hate people who think gay marriage is wrong, I just hate people who think gay marriage is wrong and can't deal with it so they push for it to be removed permantally so the rest of the phobes can live in a wonderful gay-free environment (because we all know that gays are the worse possible beings on the earth! Silly fags, they always bother us straight people!!)

[Nerf Hofflemire]

...because common culture tells us that homosexuality is obviously a sin!

No, SJ the bible says that homosexuality is a sin.


Right wing nuts want to legislate their own tastes into law

Looks like we've found our replacement Sodie.

[stilljammin]

No, SJ the bible says that homosexuality is a sin.
Yes, because it's quite obviously that the bible should rule our nation, our government, and our lives. Yes, everyone believes in the bible! And because the bible says that homosexuality is a sin, the people shall listen!

Best, rebuttal, ever. Anybody who uses the bible for support may as well use the hobo down the street as a creditable source.

Oh yeah, and the bible apparently puts rape as less of a crime than homosexuality, as seen in the story of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. How come we're not jailing for homosexuality, but we are for rape?

[alwaysRight]

Yippie! You're right Nerf.. sounds like Sodie has a replacement... ha.

If you don't find the Bible credible I would appreciate you not use it in your comments. EDIT: Which was a STUPID comment anyway

Homosexuality is not a mental disorder. It's a choice. You choose to be gay. Period.

And people don't want homo's to not be able to marry because it's wrong, it's about the benefits and it's also about the sanctity of marriage. To me anyway. If you want to be gay, go ahead do as you wish. But marriage has always been recognized between a man and a woman. Let's leave it that way.

[stilljammin]

If you don't find the Bible credible I would appreciate you not use it in your comments. EDIT: Which was a STUPID comment anyway
It's called using his own source against him. So regardless if the bible is a credible source or not, I used what he used against him.


And people don't want homo's to not be able to marry because it's wrong, it's about the benefits and it's also about the sanctity of marriage. Sanctity? Hah. Yeah, marriage is very sacred. Because it's so sacred, that's why we have these "Who want's to marry a billionaire?" reality shows. That's why we even have divorce, for that matter. If marriage is sacred, then why should their be a need for divorce?

And as I said before, the only reason why theres a big uproar against homosexual marriage is because it's a relatively unwidespread (if that's a word) issue. Because our former culture has labeled any marriage other than "straight marriage" as alienated, doesn't mean that should remain firm for our newer, evolving culture.

[Nerf Hofflemire]

Yes, because it's quite obviously that the bible should rule our nation, our government, and our lives. Yes, everyone believes in the bible! And because the bible says that homosexuality is a sin, the people shall listen!
I'd like proof that says that homosexuallity is normal, please. Or a reason that we should accept it. They do it beause it feels good right? Because that is what they belive and nobody should take away their belives, no matter how wrong it is? How about taking drugs? That's supposed to feel good! Heaven forbid I ever tell someone to stop taking drugs if thats what they believe. Or sleeping with their neighbors wife. Do you accept people that have sex with animals? Give me a reason that we should accept homosexuallity, when it flies in the face of everything natrual.



Best, rebuttal, ever. Anybody who uses the bible for support may as well use the hobo down the street as a creditable source.
What do you belive in?


Oh yeah, and the bible apparently puts rape as less of a crime than homosexuality, as seen in the story of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. How come we're not jailing for homosexuality, but we are for rape?
Thou shalt not commit adultry

[stilljammin]

I'd like proof that says that homosexuallity is normal, please. Or a reason that we should accept it. They do it beause it feels good right? Because that is what they belive and nobody should take away their belives, no matter how wrong it is? How about taking drugs? That's supposed to feel good! Heaven forbid I ever tell someone to stop taking drugs if thats what they believe. Or sleeping with their neighbors wife. Do you accept people that have sex with animals? Give me a reason that we should accept homosexuallity, when it flies in the face of everything natrual.
Why do I have to give you a source to prove that something is normal? Why don't you give me a source that heterosexuality is normal? Why don't you give me a source that unbiasly says that homosexuality is normal? Point is that it's a SEXUAL PREFERENCE just like how some people like black women, or some people like girls with big tits, or small asses, or whatever.

And trying to compare sexuality to drugs ain't gonna cut it. Because I can use the same argument against you. It's not wrong, it's only wrong to you, there is no universal morality, nor is their universal right and wrong (yeah it's redundant, but maybe redundance will help you think).


Thou shalt not commit adultry
Adultry and rape are two difference things. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200

And btw, natural (or natrual, as you put it) means found in nature, right? Animals have homosexual sex all the time. Ancient cultures did it all the time. It's found in every aspect of nature.


What do you belive in?
Doesn't matter what I believe in. However, what I believe in doesn't come from a book that's 2000 years old, where snakes talk, virgins can actually have children (don't give me artifical insemenation either), and apparently water can be chemically turned into wine in a split second.

[alwaysRight]

Animals have homosexual sex all the time? Wow, so my dog likes other girl dogs? I'll have to keep her in on Friday nights now. Damn her.

Marriage is sacred. It's people that screw it up and don't respect it. It's men who can't control what's in their pants and women who can't keep their legs together that mess things up. There wouldn't be divorce if people would respect eachother.

[rightwingxtremist]

Why don't you give me a source that heterosexuality is normal? Why don't you give me a source that unbiasly says that homosexuality is normal?

How about human nature and biology throughout all of history? That's a pretty un-biased source I'd say.

- Nathan

[stilljammin]

Animals have homosexual sex all the time? Wow, so my dog likes other girl dogs? I'll have to keep her in on Friday nights now. Damn her.
Maybe I should have limited it to undomesticated animals? I thought it was self-explanatory, sorry.


Marriage is sacred. It's people that screw it up and don't respect it. It's men who can't control what's in their pants and women who can't keep their legs together that mess things up. There wouldn't be divorce if people would respect eachother.
And if those nutjobs who ==== up the whole marriage thing, then why can't gays have their chance at it? Besides, if people treat marriage as unsacred, than it's going to render it unsacred. And 43% of all marriages in 1997 ended in divorce, and that number is on the rise. So you're talking about alot of people who don't respect each other.

And there would be gay marriage if the majority would respect the rights of the minority, and vice versa.

[Dr. Madd]

Since liberals are taking over in November. . .might be a little premature.


The Only thing the Liberals are gonna do in November is whine because they failed to gain a majority.

[alwaysRight]

anyway....

the point is that marriage has been recognized as between a man and a woman for years and years and years, so why should we change it now? To accomodate 1-2% of the population? Don't think so.

[rightwingxtremist]

And btw, natural (or natrual, as you put it) means found in nature, right? Animals have homosexual sex all the time. Ancient cultures did it all the time. It's found in every aspect of nature.

I have a faint memory of having said this before many moons ago:

If we are now citing animal behavior as a basis for modeling that of humans, we are in deep deep (deep) trouble.

- Nathan

[Dr. Madd]

Maybe I should have limited it to undomesticated animals? I thought it was self-explanatory, sorry.


And if those nutjobs who ==== up the whole marriage thing, then why can't gays have their chance at it? Besides, if people treat marriage as unsacred, than it's going to render it unsacred. And 43% of all marriages in 1997 ended in divorce, and that number is on the rise. So you're talking about alot of people who don't respect each other.

And there would be gay marriage if the majority would respect the rights of the minority, and vice versa.

Homosexuality is at best a mental disorder and Gay Marriage only encourages the insanity. Marriage is a religious institution and the government has no business telling churches to allow Gays to marry.

[rightwingxtremist]

And if those nutjobs who ==== up the whole marriage thing, then why can't gays have their chance at it? Besides, if people treat marriage as unsacred, than it's going to render it unsacred. And 43% of all marriages in 1997 ended in divorce, and that number is on the rise. So you're talking about alot of people who don't respect each other.

Because that is not a positive argument for gay marriage. Generally speaking "love" has been more-or-less the basis of the argument for gay marriage. I state again that the government has not, can not, and should not be in the business of ascertaining who loves each other. Certainly there are marriages of convenience and that is their perogative, because they meet the definition that has been understood since... forever.

- Nathan

[stilljammin]

How about human nature and biology throughout all of history? That's a pretty un-biased source I'd say.

- Nathan
Yeah, including the homosexual tendancies in Greek and Roman culture? Oh wait, maybe not?

Thought not.

[rightwingxtremist]

Yeah, including the homosexual tendancies in Greek and Roman culture? Oh wait, maybe not?

Thought not.

How about penises and vaginas?

- Nathan

[Wadi66]

and look what happened to them.

[alwaysRight]

not to get off point but Wadi, why do some people have a yellow or white little thing that looks like Utah by the time?

[stilljammin]

If we are now citing animal behavior as a basis for modeling that of humans, we are in deep deep (deep) trouble.
He was talking natural, and natural = found in nature. So I used animal sexual behavior i support of gay marriage being natural. kthxbye


The MAJORITY doesn't have to respect the MINORITY. Republics are run by MAJORITIES.
Republicans are run by the rich, which renders them plutocrats.


Homosexuality is at best a mental disorder and Gay Marriage only encourages the insanity. Marriage is a religious institution and the government has no business telling churches to allow Gays to marry.
So you're pretty much telling me that you have to be in a church to marry? Hmmmmm, I see a fault somewhere. Marriage is just as much a civil institution as it is religious institution to others.


Because that is not a positive argument for gay marriage.
That wasn't an argument for gay marriage, it was an argument against the sactity of marriage, there's a difference.


because they meet the definition that has been understood since... forever.
And gays should meet that definition also. Because marriage should be about love.