Army Defends Gay Pride Pins

[icyfroth]

The Defence Department is standing firm behind its decision to issue rising sun cufflinks and lapel badges emblazoned on a gay pride flag.

A Queensland Army Reserve officer has lashed out at the idea, claiming it is inappropriate for the rising sun symbol to be used for a "political cause".

Major Bernard Gaynor is demanding the Minister for Defence halt production of the pins, saying Defence is "wasting taxpayer dollars on jewellery to promote homosexuality".

"The rising sun badge is a symbol of the Australian Army and is loved and respected by Australians of all walks of life," Major Gaynor said. "It is an insult to all current and former serving personnel for the rising sun to be linked with the political campaign for homosexual marriage."

Defence said its army pride lapel pin and cufflinks were dev-eloped to show the modern Australian Defence Force was an org-anisation that respects diversity.

The army allows personnel to wear endorsed lapel pins and ribbons on specific occasions.

"Workplace inclusion for all ADF members is a high priority for Defence as it undergoes cultural change," a Defence spokeswoman said.

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Surely a person's sexual orientation is their own business and doesn't need to promoted by the Defence Force of all people. God knows they have enough sexual harrasment and **bleep** problems without advertising people's sexual preferences.

[bluecat*dancing]

For those who wish to marry their same-sex partner, it is a personal issue rather than a political one.

[cherples]

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@icyfroth wrote:

The Defence Department is standing firm behind its decision to issue rising sun cufflinks and lapel badges emblazoned on a gay pride flag.

A Queensland Army Reserve officer has lashed out at the idea, claiming it is inappropriate for the rising sun symbol to be used for a "political cause".

Major Bernard Gaynor is demanding the Minister for Defence halt production of the pins, saying Defence is "wasting taxpayer dollars on jewellery to promote homosexuality".

"The rising sun badge is a symbol of the Australian Army and is loved and respected by Australians of all walks of life," Major Gaynor said. "It is an insult to all current and former serving personnel for the rising sun to be linked with the political campaign for homosexual marriage."

Defence said its army pride lapel pin and cufflinks were dev-eloped to show the modern Australian Defence Force was an org-anisation that respects diversity.

The army allows personnel to wear endorsed lapel pins and ribbons on specific occasions.

"Workplace inclusion for all ADF members is a high priority for Defence as it undergoes cultural change," a Defence spokeswoman said.

Click Here To View Entire Article

Surely a person's sexual orientation is their own business and doesn't need to promoted by the Defence Force of all people. God knows they have enough sexual harrasment and **bleep** problems without advertising people's sexual preferences.

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Now we have some random army reservist thinking he has the right to demand the Minister of Defence act on his behalf.  How dare someone try to encourage acceptance of homosexual people instead of taunting, teasing and abusing them.

[spotweldersfriend]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1j0Pjw5ye4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[jimmy*part4]

Ok...I'm biting my tongue, BUTT.....come on!!!

Major Gaynor and both threads....

Army defends gay pride pins Australian students slipping behind.

[spotweldersfriend]

So there.If its good enough for tbe Brits...

[pct001wine]

Good work ADF.   Rather than "promoting homosexuality" as Major Gaynor would have us believe (lol), at least this may do something to recognise diversity in the ADF, and heaven help us, reduce the levels of homophobia in the ADF.

MAJ Gaynor needs to butt out.

[icyfroth]

all very well but I don't see why being gay should even warrant a mention in any application for the Defence Force. Surely that's a person's own business.

On an application form all it requires you to answer is, are you male or female?

Does it ask anyone how do you take your sex? I don't think so. It's nobody's business but your own.

So why this promotion of Gay Pride? Do we see demonstrations of Male Pride? Or Female Pride? Homosexuality is not a 3rd gender!

You are still either male or female so get over it, we get it already with the gay acceptance thing!

[bluecat*dancing]

Heterosexuals are not stigmatised for their sexuality unlike homosexuals. Gay men have been victims of hate crime simply because of their sexuality. Gays and Lesbians have been, still are, made to feel as if there is something incredibly wrong with themselves. They still get treated like they are second class citizens and do not , except for the ACT,  have the right to marry. Therefore, I understand the reasons for gay pride and I am hopeful that one day society will grow up so there won't be a need for such a thing.

I don't see the problem in adding rainbow colours to a badge.

[icyfroth]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Heterosexuals are not stigmatised for their sexuality unlike homosexuals. Gay men have been victims of hate crime simply because of their sexuality. Gays and Lesbians have been, still are, made to feel as if there is something incredibly wrong with themselves. They still get treated like they are second class citizens and do not , except for the ACT,  have the right to marry. Therefore, I understand the reasons for gay pride and I am hopeful that one day society will grow up so there won't be a need for such a thing.

I don't see the problem in adding rainbow colours to a badge.

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I don't see the ADF having any business promoting the bedroom activities of it's personnell. 

The defence force is there to defend our country or help our allies in the defence of theirs in the case of our Aussie soldiers.

I feel adding gay pride colours to a badge trivialises the sacrifices Aussie soldiers made in the last 2 wars. Leave the badge as it is.