At 5'7", my life has never been short of shrimp jokes, but have I ever felt discriminated against because of it? Not at all. It's just a fact of life. According to a Huffington report, Republican Sean Bielat agrees, which is why he says gay men like me shouldn't be offended that we're not welcome in the U.S. Military.
Republican Sean Bielat, the contender for Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank's longheld seat, showed his support for DADT by comparing gays to... short people? "There's no absolute right to serve," Bielat told the Boston Herald, "Men under the height of 5 feet, 2 inches can't serve—I don't see anybody protesting."
Bielat went on: "Where are the people standing in front of the White House, the short guys standing in front of the White House? You don't see it."
You dont see it cus their behind the tall people…
(i had to say it)
I am 5′7″ and gay. Where does that leave me?
For starters, 5′7″ is not short, it is in fact quite average. Though size may be a decisive factor in military standards, It is not comparable to being gay. If you’ll take size as a comfort, why not compare gays to say, the people, mentally handicapped or physically deformed. Is it really not a big deal? I can see how one without hearing might be restricted from being an oral translator, but when DADT terminates very capable and very necessary gay linguists strictly because of the gender they are attracted to sexually, in a professional, non-sexual environment, I am offended by the comparison. I, by the way, am 28 and stand 5′3″ and am a professional athlete who is not allowed to serve in the military because I am openly gay. It certainly isn’t because I’m incapable.