Canada stealing our lesbians
Well, at least one of them anyway. i wrote about Bethany Smith/Skyler James back in September who claims that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy isn’t working for her/him. Apparently, right before she was scheduled to deploy, Smith/James told her superiors that she was a lesbian and they wouldn’t kick her out.
1stCavRVN11B sent us a link to a Free Republic discussion of a Canada.com article which announces Smith/James’ latest stay of execution allowing her/him to stay in Canada;
Federal Court Justice Yves de Montigny’s order for the board to consider a gay U.S. soldier as a credible refugee candidate is believed to be a first, said a spokesman for the U.S. military.
“I have never heard of anybody attempting to do that before,” said army spokesman Lt.-Col. Christopher Garver.
Pte. Bethany Smith, 21, will have another chance to argue her case for staying in Canada, rather than face deportation and a possible court martial in the U.S. for fleeing the military base at Fort Campbell, Ky., two years ago.
“I did a happy dance when I heard,” said the deserter, now an Ottawa call centre worker who has adopted the name Skyler James.
I consulted with one of our resident lesbians who had experience with the military a few months back and she agreed with me that Smith/James’ story sounds like BS. She/he didn’t have trouble with her alleged treatment until it became apparent that she would deploy. Her/his contention that she/he will be mistreated when she returns to the US misuses the refugee laws of Canada.
I guess DADT is bad policy except when gays can use it in their favor. I wonder why more gays haven’t embraced this story.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Society
While not an advocate, I will say this in response to your question, Jonn: The reason more haven’t used it as an excuse is because there are actually gay/lesbo troopers that actually want to serve their country and do the job they signed up for. I see no difference between this mutt and the other mutts that have bailed on their obligation. No matter whether they are gay makes no difference in whether they are deserter scum or not.
The story does sound like BS. And yes, OldTrooper, there are many gay/lesbian/bisexual that do want to serve their country. It’s one thing to be discharged on account of being unable to combine one’s alternate lifestyle to current military regulation… but it’ pretty damned sad that one would use his or her own sexual identity to bail out on a deployment.
(sigh) … I would give anything to be back in the Army. =/