Northstate Science

Here in California, Representative Duncan Hunter is essentially defending troops’ right to be homophobic to their fellow gay service members by introducing a bill designed to prevent repercussions for any who do not approve of a gay lifestyle. The bill, in part, reads as follows:

To amend Public Law 111-321 (Dont’ Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010) to require that… members of the Armed Forces are not pressured to approve of another person’s sexual conduct if that sexual conduct is contrary to the personal principles of the members.

Rather than protest the clear purpose of the bill – to enshrine bigotry – I would simply propose the following language be introduced simultaneously with Hunter’s bill:

To amend Public Law 111-321 (Dont’ Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010) – or any other public law that will do – to require that… members of the Armed Forces are not pressured to approve of another person’s religious convictions, customs or activities, nor should members be pressured to participate in military events or activities that are sponsored by religious organizations, contain religious overtones or are perceived as being religious in nature,  if it is contrary to the personal principles of the members, where personal principles includes orientations that are atheistic, non-religious, non-denominational spirituality, or  minority religious persuasions.

I’m sure the MRFF would agree that something like this is needed to protect the personal principles of our service men and women.