I worked for several decades under Civil Service (for Los Angeles County). It's possible to fire someone -- but with great difficulty after the first year. It's relatively easy to make anyone's job so unpleasant that the person has no practical option but to resign, and to do this in ways that aren't provably motivated by (illegal) prejudice.
I also spent 18 months as a Draftee in the Army (c. 1950), where the same principle was in operation -- although, that being wartime, the effect was more like punishment with no opt-out.
It seems to me that we do need a trident, here -- a CiC who recognizes that members of racial & cultural minorities, women, and gays (insofar as they don't fall in the "cultural minority" category) can be as capable as anyone else at handling military duties; an upper-level military establishment that recognizes the same thing; and Congressional Laws that close loopholes and tie up loose ends, to reduce the possibility of it being reversed if/when the individuals in charge change.
I think the best solution is to join the rest of the civilized world in prohibiting discrimination -- everywhere -- on the basis of sexual orientation, and that the only valid way of doing this is to establish explicit Laws to that effect. Not that The Law ever works perfectly, of course, but it seems to be the necessary beginning, and I think it's shameful that the U.S. hasn't done this long ago.
no subject
I worked for several decades under Civil Service (for Los Angeles County). It's possible to fire someone -- but with great difficulty after the first year. It's relatively easy to make anyone's job so unpleasant that the person has no practical option but to resign, and to do this in ways that aren't provably motivated by (illegal) prejudice.
I also spent 18 months as a Draftee in the Army (c. 1950), where the same principle was in operation -- although, that being wartime, the effect was more like punishment with no opt-out.
It seems to me that we do need a trident, here -- a CiC who recognizes that members of racial & cultural minorities, women, and gays (insofar as they don't fall in the "cultural minority" category) can be as capable as anyone else at handling military duties; an upper-level military establishment that recognizes the same thing; and Congressional Laws that close loopholes and tie up loose ends, to reduce the possibility of it being reversed if/when the individuals in charge change.
I think the best solution is to join the rest of the civilized world in prohibiting discrimination -- everywhere -- on the basis of sexual orientation, and that the only valid way of doing this is to establish explicit Laws to that effect. Not that The Law ever works perfectly, of course, but it seems to be the necessary beginning, and I think it's shameful that the U.S. hasn't done this long ago.