Elephant in the Room

lostsheppard94 · 06-15-2013, 11:52 AM

How are gay people treated while in Basic? I have thick skin and I have definitely heard it all, but just as a general mood--what should I expect?

LT Guppy · 06-15-2013, 11:58 AM

In theory, it shouldn't even be addressed any more than the sexuality of straight people.

I had instructors and other candidates who were openly gay and no one made a big deal of it. I guess it will really come down to who is in your class. But, if you were to have problems with other recruits or your instructors, you are protected by the anti-sexual harassment policies.

gameingkine · 06-15-2013, 11:58 AM

All I know is what I've seen on the show carrier, you can get kicked out for offending any kind of person, not worth it

wdpballer · 06-15-2013, 12:55 PM

just don't act gay and you'll be fine. dont talk with a lisp and don't stare at people's junk in the showers.

kforbs126 · 06-15-2013, 01:21 PM

Just be yourself. People don't care especially in the fleet.

sweetmtn · 06-15-2013, 02:17 PM

My best advise would be to just try and blend in with everyone else...you never want to stand out at boot, wether you are gay or straight! I know that Dont Ask, Dont Tell is gone in the military, but while in boot it probably is best not to advertise if you are. Technically no one should know if you are or not, as it shouldnt matter as displays of affection are never permitted anyway...so why would anyone know or care.

jzhaun · 06-15-2013, 03:53 PM

In my experience there was some idle speculation about who might or might not be gay but nothing more. Just curiosity, no one who was really homophobic or anything like that. No one really advertises in boot, and there's pretty much no physical contact allowed at all so it isn't like anything should happen to prove it one way or the other.

Bahrke · 06-17-2013, 08:27 AM

We had multiple guys/girls in our division that were gay. The girls were usually more open than the guys, but no one had any problems. If anything they got more positive attention than negative. But that was just my division :P

lostsheppard94 · 06-24-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetmtn

My best advise would be to just try and blend in with everyone else...you never want to stand out at boot, wether you are gay or straight! I know that Dont Ask, Dont Tell is gone in the military, but while in boot it probably is best not to advertise if you are. Technically no one should know if you are or not, as it shouldnt matter as displays of affection are never permitted anyway...so why would anyone know or care.

Thank you. I just was worried about being harassed and such. I didn't need another reason to be nervous.

06-15-2013, 11:52 AM	#1
lostsheppard94 Newbie Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Elephant in the Room How are gay people treated while in Basic? I have thick skin and I have definitely heard it all, but just as a general mood--what should I expect?

06-15-2013, 11:58 AM	#2
LT Guppy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,858 Rep Power: 343	In theory, it shouldn't even be addressed any more than the sexuality of straight people. I had instructors and other candidates who were openly gay and no one made a big deal of it. I guess it will really come down to who is in your class. But, if you were to have problems with other recruits or your instructors, you are protected by the anti-sexual harassment policies. __________________ Officers: making simple stuff hard since 1775 ACTIVE DUTY SAILORS - Click here to have your account verified

06-15-2013, 02:17 PM	#6
sweetmtn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: N. CA Posts: 3,787 Rep Power: 390	My best advise would be to just try and blend in with everyone else...you never want to stand out at boot, wether you are gay or straight! I know that Dont Ask, Dont Tell is gone in the military, but while in boot it probably is best not to advertise if you are. Technically no one should know if you are or not, as it shouldnt matter as displays of affection are never permitted anyway...so why would anyone know or care. __________________ Proud Military Mom, Navy Vet Justin(MM2n), and Army Vet SSgt Clayton "*Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude*." Thomas Jefferson

06-15-2013, 11:58 AM	#3
gameingkine Active Duty Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 121 Rep Power: 19	All I know is what I've seen on the show carrier, you can get kicked out for offending any kind of person, not worth it

06-15-2013, 12:55 PM	#4
wdpballer Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 25 Rep Power: 9	just don't act gay and you'll be fine. dont talk with a lisp and don't stare at people's junk in the showers.

06-15-2013, 01:21 PM	#5
kforbs126 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 943 Rep Power: 127	Just be yourself. People don't care especially in the fleet.

06-15-2013, 03:53 PM	#7
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 127	In my experience there was some idle speculation about who might or might not be gay but nothing more. Just curiosity, no one who was really homophobic or anything like that. No one really advertises in boot, and there's pretty much no physical contact allowed at all so it isn't like anything should happen to prove it one way or the other.

06-17-2013, 08:27 AM	#8
Bahrke Newbie Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dahlgren, VA Posts: 11 Rep Power: 8	We had multiple guys/girls in our division that were gay. The girls were usually more open than the guys, but no one had any problems. If anything they got more positive attention than negative. But that was just my division :P