That’s a question I have heard a lot and that I used to ask myself before I met my girlfriend. If you know they don't want you, why join?

The answer may shock you but the military's own little secret is that they DO want gay people in the services.

Well, maybe it's not that they "want gay people", but they sure as hell do want thoughtful, intelligent, trainable and trustworthy individuals in various sensitive and highly skilled positions that require these traits. Obviously I am not talking about the types of jobs that require the soldier, sailor, etc. to ever fire a gun or jump out of a plane or know how to survive in a jungle/desert...what most people typically imagine "military jobs" to be. These "typical" military jobs are of great merit and the individuals that perform them keep this country safe so you and I can sleep at night. Of this there is no doubt. However, there are also a number of jobs in the various branches of the military that essentially consist of sitting in front of a computer performing intelligence related functions, such as cryptology and language translation. These jobs require a high security clearance (which requires that you have no criminal background, a good credit score, etc.) and no small amount of intellect and natural linguistic ability. My girlfriend is part of this second group.

Now, I do not say that if she was out to her coworkers and superior officers that she would be in no danger of losing not just her job but her entire career. She would, and that’s the point. What I am saying is that there is a tacit acceptance in the military...certainly at Ft. Gordon and, I suspect, at other military facilities where jobs of a more sensitive or intellectual nature are conducted, of gay people in certain positions.

A year before my girlfriend came to Ft. Gordon there was a big scandal whereby many gay people "got into trouble" because they were discussing things in the military chat channels that indicated their sexual preference. There's a big difference between getting in hot water and being thrown out of your chosen career. I dare say that had these individuals had different types of jobs within the military that may have made them seem easier to replace, they would have certainly been given dishonorable discharges for being so open about who they are.

So what's the point? Simply this: The country is in a period of rapid change with regards to gay marriage in particular right now...which leads to evolution in other areas of thinking in regards to gay rights. People all over are now thinking about these things that may never have had occasion to think about them before. These are "overnight" changes that have taken decades of struggle to bring about, but the military really only cares about one thing...victory over our enemies and the protection of our country (OK, that’s two things but they are closely related).

The time is right for change...not just the kind where certain things are quietly accepted in the interest of having the best and brightest minds for the job but in a way that would allow open, honest acceptance of all gay people in the military, with no equivocation. We do not have a draft...if they are there it's because they want to be and because they have something to contribute. Just like everyone else who has made the choice to serve their country.