'Silent partner'

[briangood]

"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell", one of the most insulting and stupidest policies.

 

'Silent partner' examines what happens when people 'don't tell'

 

One of the rarely discussed effects of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule is the burden it places on the civilian partners of gay and lesbian service members. When their loved ones go to war, they do not have access to any of the counseling, financial assistance or support networks offered to heterosexual spouses. And if their loved ones die, no one will come knocking at their doors to notify them.

 

On Thursday, gay veterans and their partners shared their experiences at the local premiere of "Silent Partners," a 30-minute documentary offering a glimpse into the lives of three gay "military spouses" waiting for their partners to come home.

 

"This film, I believe, is telling a story we haven't heard before," said Lt. Daniel Choi, who introduced the film.

 

 

 

 

You can watch the whole thing on line here.

 

Do tell how you feel.

 

:(

Edited October 21, 2009 by briangood

[Nivek]

Thank you for posting this briangood - it looks like a very powerful, and long-overdue documentation of this issue. The third preview in particular moved me to intense sadness. I plan to watch the entire film in the next few days when I have the time to sit a see it through.

 

:nivek:

[hager75]

Thanks Brian for bringing up this issue.

 

I watched the video and it impacted me. I think you have to love too much to bear what gay soldiers and their partners have to bear. It must be hard to become a silent, invisible partner, and suffer in silence. As one participant said, "it's not good to your soul to hide." My admiration goes out to those who are going through such a severe situation.

 

Let's hope Obama fulfills his promise to eliminate such senseless policy ...

 

:hager75:

[peu]

this is really sad

i can't understand how this things still exist

i mean a stupid ignorance of some people

can make some other people life so miserable

if you know what i mean

the video is sad, i will see if i can find the entire

documentary so i can watch it.

i didnt know obama had made a promise about it

so let's hope that he fulfills it, just like hager said

[rosewood]

The "don't ask don't tell" policy which is enshrined in a law passed by the u.s. congress institutionalizes and legitimizes bigotry in a society. As the late Barry Goldwater, one of the pillars of republican conservatism, and whose gay son was denied service in the military, famously remarked: You don't have to be straight to shoot straight. For a country who proudly beams the light of democracy to the rest of the world but disallows a segment of its society to live openly and to love openly inexorably sends a message of hipocrisy and cannot claim any moral ascendancy. And for the u.s. to accuse other countries of human rights violations is laughable and an oxymoron.

Edited October 22, 2009 by rosewood

[briangood]

the video is sad, i will see if i can find the entire

documentary so i can watch it.

 

When you are ready and you have half an hour to spare, click the following link and you can watch it online.

 

http://www.akawilliam.com/silent-partners-...f-gay-soldiers/

 

:)

[uhhuh]

Wow. I think that's what the conservative people don't understand. Being in a homosexual relationship, a person has the same feelings of love and sadness when their partner goes to war. I will try and watch this documentary - thanks briangood.

[ne1]

Our men and women in uniform deserve better than this...

 

With employers like Microsoft, Boeing, Nike, and Starbucks championing equal rights (link) the fact that the US government has always shyed away from issues like this is ridiculous

[loco paper]

man o man

[Major1]

I had no idea what to expect in this thread

Silent Partner was the name brand of the tennis ball machine I owned

 

This is a little more deep than that