The US House's Armed Services Committee is debating the repeal of the military's homophobic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which basically forbids gays and lesbians from serving "openly" (that is, out) in the armed forces. Fifteen years ago -- when the policy was introduced after a failed attempt from President Clinton to repeal the ban altogether -- arguments for their exclusion had some cultural currency. But today, the gay-hater perspective just seem Byzantine:

But Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness said that allowing gays to serve openly in the military would be disruptive. She said service members often have to live in close quarters while on tour, which would open them to "inappropriate passive/aggressive actions common in the homosexual community, short of physical touching and assault."

"Such a policy would impose new, unneeded burdens of sexual tension on men and women serving in high pressure working conditions, far from home, that are unlike any occupation in the civilian world," Donnelly said.

Brian Jones, a retired sergeant major in the Army, also argued that allowing gays to serve publicly could hurt recruiting.

"Allowing homosexuality in the military would cause unnecessary sexual tension and disruptions to good order, morale, discipline and unit cohesion," Jones said. "This would erode the very qualities of military service that presently appeal to potential recruits."

Get is passed. Like it or not, since WWI the military has proven to be a way for poor queer folks to get the fuck out of their hometowns and pay for college (though, in all fairness, this has been strained with the soaring cost of higher education).