Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyMay 3rd, 2010
Former Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Rocha has today’s featured letter to Barack Obama, asking him to urge the inclusion of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’s” repeal in this year’s Defense Appropriations Bill.
Rocha describes growing up in abuse and neglect, which only strengthened his resolve to serve his country. Unable to gain entry into the Naval Academy, he enlisted when he turned eighteen joined a team of dog handlers trained to detect explosives. He knew that he was gay, but he believed that “based on merit and achievement I would excel in the military” and the current law would protect him.
It didn’t quite work out that way:
I never told anyone I was gay. But a year and a half later while serving in the Middle East, I was tormented by my chief and fellow sailors, physically and emotionally, as they had their suspicions. The irony of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is that it protects bigots and punishes gays who comply.
Shop talk in the unit revolved around sex, either the prostitute-filled parties of days past or the escapades my comrades looked forward to. They interpreted my silence and total lack of interest as an admission of homosexuality. My higher-ups seemed to think that gave them the right to bind me to chairs, ridicule me, hose me down and lock me in a feces-filled dog kennel.
On one day in the Middle East, I was ordered by a superior to get down on my hands and knees and simulate oral sex on a person working in the kennel. We were supposed to pretend that we were in our bedroom and that the dogs were catching us in the act. Over and over, with each of the dogs in our unit, I was forced to endure this scenario.
I told no one about what I was living through. I feared that reporting the abuse would lead to an investigation into my sexuality. Frankly, as we continue to delay the repeal of this horrible law, I can’t help but wonder how many people find themselves in similar, despicable situations and remain silent. My anger today doesn’t come from the abuse, but rather from the inhumanity of a standing law that allowed for it.
Three and a half years later when the Navy began investigating this case, Rocha had secured a spot at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. But after having spent a lifetime in abuse, he questioned “the life of persecution, degradation, and dishonor DADT had forced on me.”
You can read the full letter here. All of the letters from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s campaign are available here. The SLDN explains why they are publishing this series of letters from active and former servicemembers:
“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.
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Swampfox
May 3rd, 2010
I have heard of his story before. It is an appalling story that speaks volumes about the DADT policy.
Quo
May 3rd, 2010
The abuse Joseph Rocha was subjected to is deplorable, and it reveals something unpleasant about military culture.
Let’s remember, though, that he was only subjected to the abuse because he was foolish enough to join the military in the first place, so it’s as much his fault as anyone else’s.
If soliders react this way to homosexuals or suspected homosexuals, that’s a good reason for strenthening the policy against homosexuals. Instead of repealing the military’s ban on gays, it should be made absolute, so that they are unable to join the military whether they are openly gay or not.
John in the Bay Area
May 3rd, 2010
No member of the US military is supposed to be subjected to the abuse that Rocha was subjected to for any reason. Even soldiers who are arrested and sent to the brig, or enemies captured in battle are entitled to more dignified treatment than this young man received.
What this story illustrates is a complete break-down in discipline on such a level that any number of people should have been court martialed. Also, Rocha felt that he had to remain silent. If he thought he was being targeted on the basis or race or religion, he would probably have filed an EO (Equal Opportunity) complaint early on and heads would have seriously rolled.
Because of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, seriously disturbed, sadistic criminals were able to get away with horrible abuse, because the victim was only able to come forward when he decided to leave the military. This is not good for the military. When soldiers think they can treat others this way, we get things like Abu Garaib (? spelling).
The military needs discipline far more than it needs any policies excluding gays and lesbians from serving.
Quo
May 3rd, 2010
John,
Sure, the military needs better discipline to prevent things like that from happening. But it also needs to exclude homosexuals. Discrimination against homosexuals by the military is completely appropriate. Homosexuals should learn to accept that, and they shouldn’t attempt to join the military, where they aren’t wanted.
John in the Bay Area
May 3rd, 2010
Quo,
This issue involved the American military. I can assure you that there is one thing that most Americans, from liberal to conservative, from pro-equality to anti-equality, would agree upon: we Americans will ultimately solve this issue ourselves without the need for outside interference from non-Americans who only want to stir up trouble. This isn’t your issue, you don’t have a vote, and your opinion is irrelevant.
Feel free to work towards whatever level of discrimination you would like in your country’s military.
Burr
May 3rd, 2010
Ah I see Quo is the type that blames the woman for getting raped because she was dressed like she was asking for it. Therefore all women should wear burqas to prevent all future rapes.
Burr
May 3rd, 2010
Forgot about protecting the victims, let’s protect the criminals from even considering their demented vices.
Quo
May 3rd, 2010
John in the Bay Area,
It’s interesting that you’d think that my simply commenting on this issue is “interference” in American affairs – or that supporting a conservative view of the issue (one which I’m sure some Americans would agree with) is “stirring up trouble.”
Neko
May 4th, 2010
Quo… seriously? You’re not supporting a “conservative” view. You’re supporting an idiotic view. I know plenty of conservatives who actually think, and realize that this ban causes more trouble that it does good.
As for the “this means we need a stronger ban” thing… you know, the American military has issues with change. It doesn’t matter if they’re gay soldiers, black soldiers, hispanic soldiers, or female soldiers; I’m pretty sure that almost every social minority has been abused at some point in a military unit. That abuse probably still goes on from time to time, as well. By your logic, are you saying that we should restrict the military to only straight, white males?
Tommy
May 4th, 2010
Wow, Quo is particularly vile at the moment. How disgusting is it to blame the victim? I’m not sure there is a word in the English language to convey just how purely spiteful and evil such claims are. Truly being repugnant there Quo.
Richard Rush
May 4th, 2010
Assuming Quo is who he would appear to be, his view of this matter is understandable. In Quo-world bigots are the better people, the good people, the correct people, the people qualified to set the standards, and thus the people to be emulated. And since Quo’s gayness is not acceptable, he must strive to become straight, and when that fails, he must pretend to be straight – all to satisfy a longing for acceptance from bigots. He aspires to one of them.
Timothy Kincaid
May 4th, 2010
Come on, guys!!
You know Quo is only here looking for attention. You know he’s only hoping to incite criticism to feed his need to believe that gay people are hateful. You know that this is all about his own self-contempt and inability to resolve his own internal conflicts.
Let’s not feed into his sinner/martyr issues. He needs professional help and our responses only stand in the way of him recognizing that.
Emily K
May 4th, 2010
Timothy is right. the only reason Quo comes here is to be able to convince himself he’s correct in so desperately trying to cure himself: after all, if the only things gay and gay-supportive people tell him are angry and/or mocking, he’ll only be able to further grasp at his desperation to oppose us and not be one of us. If we keep feeding this troll, he’ll only continue his self-destructive cycle.
Jason D
May 4th, 2010
Tim, Emily, that’s why I stopped responding to anything he posts awhile ago. Well, that AND the whole “parents have a right to force their kids to have sex with prostitutes/nobody owns their own body” stuff.
Burr
May 4th, 2010
This is such a stupid example to use as a “see? gays are the problem” argument anyway.
This would happen to any 100% straight, god-fearing, Christian who doesn’t believe in having sex with prostitutes, too.
Burr
May 4th, 2010
It’s telling that he didn’t reply to any of the other stories which demonstrated the excellent work of gay soldiers and the incredible praise received.
Gotta love the confirmation bias.
Quo
May 4th, 2010
Timothy,
You really aren’t being fair. I’m interested in issues involving homosexuality, and enjoy commenting on them. I don’t think I’m “looking for attention” any more than other commenters here are.
If I really wanted to be nasty for the sake of it, I’d be suggesting that Rocha deserved the abuse he received, and/or that he probably secretly enjoyed it. But I’m not saying anything like that, and nor I do think it.
So maybe you should stop abusing me and suggesting that I need professional help, which is quite untrue, and wouldn’t be relevant to my arguments against allowing gays in the military even if it was true.
Emily K
May 4th, 2010
That’s a good point, Jason. I think I’m going to follow your example in this case.
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