Here’s the relevant transcript.
KING: Why are you [Coulter] opposed to repealing it?
COULTER: You say serve openly. [Gays] can serve, they just — I just don’t understand — well, two things. I don’t understand this idea. I just can’t get through the work day without talking about my sex life. How do you expect me to serve? … all they have to do is not talk about it …You don’t want sexuality influencing young men who are supposed to be defending the nation.
It’s tough to capture Coulter’s mockery in text.
Clearly, and as Hill eventually pointed out, she only means that gay people can’t talk about their sexuality.
It seems that hyper-heterosexuality is a cornerstone in the archetype of the American soldier… from the sex-depraved teenager fresh from his hometown looking for a real-life pin-up girl to the faithful husband who carries his wife’s photo in his pocket. Sex is sex. Love is love.
In the words of Former Corporal Juan C. Perezortiz, who’s letter is a part of the ‘Stories from the Frontlines‘:
The gunnery sergeant enjoyed socializing with the junior Marines in the shop, frequently taking them out drinking and to the strip clubs. I was expected to participate. I tried to be a team player so I would not be singled out. The shop soon became the squadron’s “frat pad.” Most conversation revolved around girls and hookups, often described by my comrades as “bitches and hoes.”
I refuse to believe this is a rare occurrence, and it epitomizes exactly what Coulter is arguing against: “sexuality influencing young men who are supposed to be defending the nation.”
Besides, we’re not really talking about servicemen being able to discuss their own sexuality. I think that’s step two. Step one is protecting gay service people from witch hunts and harassment on the suspicion that they’re gay.
According to Perezortiz, he was harassed by his superior after not participating in the hyper-heterosexual antics of his contemporaries.
In 2004, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network estimated that 2.8% of our military force is gay or lesbian.
With a discrepancy between gay and straight being so large and a hyper-heterosexual environment woven into the archetype of the American soldier, who’s really pushing what sexuality on who?