— ATTENTION, THIS HAS BEEN —

COMICS WITH PROBLEMS issue #38 DIGNITY & RESPECT (2001) U.S. Army training guide on the homosexual conduct policy. No numbers on how many copies were produced, but likely low; Edit: Now proven by Yahoo News to have been distributed to U.S. troops. Additionally, see OCLC information below. PROBLEM(s) DEALT WITH: Homosexual conduct, evidence gathering and credible witnesses, admission of guilt, harassment, and additional army resources.

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For those wanting information on the veracity of this document, here is its OCLC entry:

Title: Dignity & Respect:
A Training Guide on Homosexual Conduct Policy.

Publication: [Washington, D.C.]: Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Dept. of the Army, Year: 2001 Description: 30 p. : col. ill. ; 17 cm. Language: English

OCLC: 52583606

Available libraries that have a copy in their holdings(2): Pritzger Military Library and Michigan State University.

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YOUR LETTERS

Ethan
COMICS WITH PROBLEMS  
issue #38 http://www.ep.tc/problems/38  
 
DIGNITY & RESPECT (2001)  
U.S. Army training guide on the homosexual conduct policy. No numbers on how many copies were produced or distributed, but it's likely to have been a test document and not distributed to many soldiers. [Edit: Now proven by Yahoo News to have been distributed to U.S. troops: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100713/us_yblog_upshot/read-the-militarys-comic-book-on-dont-ask-dont-tell ... See http://www.ep.tc/problems/38/letters.html for OCLC information, as well]  
 
PROBLEM(s) DEALT WITH:  
Homosexual conduct, evidence gathering and credible witnesses, admission of guilt, harassment, and additional army resources.

07/11/2010, 23:36:04

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Assessor
Whoa.

07/12/2010, 11:37:09

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Smart Ass
Page 13 states "I just received word that PFC Howard's discharge has been approved." 
So, wait a second, being gay is a crime, but it's all high-fives for venereal disease?

07/12/2010, 13:26:58

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Tim

MikeTheInfidel

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Guest
Anyone can get sick or catch and STD. If it happens off base, it's no one's business. I don't see the comparison.

07/17/2010, 13:56:35

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Guaranteed Employment
Ha, you dolt. I don't think you catch the "discharge" pun. Meaning, if it needs to elaborated: the gunk that flows when the gonorrhea shows. But you raise a good politic: If a person has sex off base, is it no one's business? Based on your argument, personal lives away from work are personal. I agree!

07/17/2010, 17:42:15

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Michael B
It's funny there's a section on preventing harassment. As if getting thrown out of a career for being gay isn't an act of harassment.

07/12/2010, 13:43:02

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Vincent

MikeTheInfidel

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Pat
And the harrassment example is a little odd.  
First of all, somebody suggesting that you're gay isn't a terrible insult; to treat it as such is actually insulting.  
Secondly, nobody called him gay in the first place.  If anything, the comment demonstrated that they were sure he wasn't gay.  
All three of them felt all guilty for harrassing him, when only one of them said it?  
And finally... wasn't that guy actually harrassing the woman?  I mean, that was a pretty minor incident that probably falls mostly under bantering between friends, but if anybody was being harrassed it was her.

05/12/2011, 22:40:51

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Alyssa
Hey, weird document! Beats to hell the previous "fake" Don't Ask Don't Tell comic, Comics with Problems #23.

07/12/2010, 14:07:43

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Harold Nutts
I don't know Alyssa, I still find that one pleasantly homosexual on its own merits.

07/12/2010, 14:30:59

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Associated Press
Of course, there's also the recent story of Lionel Garcia, who used Facebook to brag about humiliating an afghani: http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/lionel-garcia-marine-pasco-brags-facebook-about-humiliating-afghani

07/12/2010, 16:22:24

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Gnarley Man
Assoc. Press - From that link, damn!

PICTURES

Click for full view, Facebook image from the linked article

07/12/2010, 20:28:50

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Ethan
Associated Press - Interesting! Gnarley Man, that image is ridiculous.

07/12/2010, 23:23:03

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Xopher
I don't believe for a minute that there's ever been one single case that was handled the way the cases in this comic were handled.  "Make sure no one harasses him," my foot!

07/13/2010, 12:14:27

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SKD

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Amanda Phillips
I dont believe for a minute youve ever been involved in one single case of someone being discharged from the military for homosexuality. You're clueless.

08/10/2010, 19:35:29

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Rik
My thanks to Mr. Persoff for hosting this excellent site. Also, I share Xopher's skepticism that the military operates anything like this comic would suggest -- or that it ever could.  The American military, while full of good people, exists to protect and perpetuate injustice and inequality -- just like the armies of all the other empires past and present. It's a bit much to expect an organization like that to be enlightened. 

07/13/2010, 19:33:40

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Guest
You my dear sir, are an idiot. I can tell you never have served. I hope you realize that these protectors of " injustice and inequality" protect your scumbag ass every day...you worthless fucking simp!

07/15/2010, 13:03:19

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Amanda Phillips

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guest
This kind of response shows that those who claim to be protecting "your scumbag ass everyday" protect nothing but their own violent arrogance.

07/15/2010, 13:10:44

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Neil LaPierre

Pat

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jaaboom!
Aren't those helicopters on the back cover about to crash?

07/13/2010, 20:15:06

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gw
yes, into eachother in front of the giant wall of humiliated homosexual faces.

07/14/2010, 20:26:47

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Guest
They never should've let Sgt Gates work on the electronics of those things. (Pg 28) Clearly he's got his own agenda -- a homosexual agenda.

07/24/2010, 14:51:25

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Tim
I served in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 1989, which was shortly before DADT. In 1986 or 87, the "Marine of the year" made headlines when he admitted to being gay. He did not admit to any homosexual "acts," which made it difficult for the military to dischage him (don't recall how his case ended). I remeber thinking what a courageous act that was on his part.  
 
When I was stationed in Germany, there were gay soldiers in my unit, and I believe the chain-of-command was aware of this, but the chain-of-command chose to leave it alone.  
 
Of course, with different commanders, those same soldiers could have faced involuntary discharges.  
 
After I left the Army, I remember viewing DADT as a step forward. I believe that policy at least gave commanders an opportunity to ignore the orientation of gay soldiers unless confronted with the sort of allegation or confession protrayed in this comic.  
 
I think the real problem has been the military's policy regarding homosexual acts. DADT was a failed attempt to deal with this problem.

07/14/2010, 09:48:21

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Peter
The book clearly illustrates how "Telling" under DADT results in discharge, but "Asking" results in a talking-to and nothing more.  In the "Harrassment" section, the soldiers are not just harrassing, they are "asking" as defined earlier in the book, yet they are not discharged. 
 
The army's own materials demonstrate that DADT is nothing but a witchhunt. 
 
If DADT stays, it is essential that those doing the Asking are punished fully.

07/14/2010, 10:05:32

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Amanda Phillips
In my expereince "asking" IS met with severe punishment, including losing rank. Im not saying being gay in the military is easy, but its not tough because people are constently living with harassment or the threat of discharge. I've seen a gay airman bring his partner to a military graduation and noone gave a f*ck. Let an NCO hear someone even mutter something inappropiate and their would have been a sh*t storm for the harasser. Having a homosexual in your unit is alot like having a female in your unit, you have to watch what you say so nothing can be used against you as evidence of harrasment, but anyone in the military is used to biting their tongue in certain company.

08/10/2010, 19:58:31

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Pat
If you "have to watch what you say so nothing can be used against you as evidence of harrasmen" in "certain company" then you probably shouldn't have been saying it in the first place.

05/12/2011, 22:45:01

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Yontarr
I like the crunchy multi-cultural and gender-blind PC characters.  It's somehow ironic to watch them professionally and dispassionately obliterating the white gay guy's military career. 

07/14/2010, 11:02:09

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Vincent

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formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence
would have been nice to have at least SEEN this document while i was enisted as a signals intelligence analyst... no one ever bothered to tell me about the fact that my pych referal was not confidential... i came back from seeing a therapist to the welcome of dischrage paperwork... 
 
soldiers are NOT informed of our rights and can not even talk to people who are ment to be there to help us without risking being discharged. i was referred afer several suicide attempts that could have easily been prevented had i been free to see a psychiatrist. 
 
instead the army lost another intelligence analyst, and the feild of psychology gained another student.

07/14/2010, 13:26:36

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formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence
oh and for those that are curious... yes, you are harrased mercilesly during he discharge process... everyone in your unit knows why you are being discharged.... its ANNOUCED IN FORMATION. your beret is confiscated and you are required to wear your soft cap, and are assigned to ground maintenaince.  your not allowed to go anywhere unescorted, and in my case my escort was instumental in the harrasmentagainst me. i was orced to cut my hair t day of my departure... because it was 1cm out of regulations even though it was common knowledge that i was a transsexual.  this along with the fact that you cant even see the chaplain, legal council or psychiatrists without first putting in a request with your sgt 1sgt or commander during the process.

07/14/2010, 13:33:17

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Guest
Tell me why, if you were a tranny, you would enlist in the Armed Services, fully aware of their policy re: homosexuals??? That makes no sense

07/15/2010, 13:05:33

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Guest
the term "tranny" is considered offensive and being a transexual is very different from being homosexual. you should not equate the two. additionally, not everyone is aware they might be transexual at every stage in their lives, sometimes that knowledge develops over time. Others may try to supress or avoid what they believe about themselves.

07/15/2010, 22:22:05

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formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence
i joined to defend my country, earn money for college, and run away from the reality of my life. you sir are a bigot.

07/17/2010, 01:41:19

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Baiinessss
I'm just passing through. But former SPC I think you mean to say "you sir are no guest. You sir are a dipshit."

07/17/2010, 02:39:16

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Darrell Knox
As a vet I really find it extremely unlikely that you ever served.  If you are a trans sexual as you claim, on the first day of processing at the closest MEPS center (for those who do not know all branches of the military initally process all recruits at the closest MEPS)  If you truly tried to join the first day when you are subjected thru a full physical examination.  They examine every recruit before they take the oath to defend the USA.  For men you spend a few hours in your undies, and taken into a exam room to bend over to visually check for hemorroids, and much more.  
 
You did not serve Mr/Mrs supposed SPC not even as a buck Private, let alone a Specialist-4.  
 
From a real U.S. Army vet.  I served when you got asked whether you took it up the poop shoot or munched carpet.  DADT wasn't introduced until right after I retired.  
 
Get your facts stright before trolling as a veteran, you are a disgrace of a human being for lying about serving.  Burn in hell.

04/26/2012, 21:07:27

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JSG
Hi, "formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence" -- Thanks for your interesting comments. And hey, if that's how they are, who gives a shit about the army. Score one for the field of psychology!

07/14/2010, 14:04:05

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SKD
"It's for unit cohesion" is similar to saying "It's for the children": anything directly in front of that sentance is instantaneously justified.  While I have no doubt that unit morale plays a huge role in cohesion, I also have no doubt that the majority of our soldiers are mature enough to not go around gossiping about other people's lives like in this comic.  A 40-50 hour work week, and this hypothetical commander probably spent half of it getting rid of one of her best soldiers, what a waste.

07/15/2010, 04:18:18

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Pat
"Sir, I came running because I heard these two guys talking about how they saw these other two guys doing something that didn't actually hurt anybody!"  
"You're right, this is important!  I'll drop everything and work on this for the next few hours."  
 
That whole exchange was so very strange...  
And remember, that was the example of what you're supposed to do.

05/12/2011, 22:49:49

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rdhawk70
FYI  Rachel  1SG is read aloud as "FIRST SERGEANT", not eye ess gee, this is really significant as it leta lot of air out of the ol' satire mobile.

07/15/2010, 06:36:41

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Pam Harrison
This is despicable. Substitute the word "Homosexual" with "Communist" or "Socialist" and it's the same old suppressive crap that America is getting more and more known for.

07/15/2010, 08:20:25

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Vincent
I first heard about DADT today, what a crazy, stick-your-head-in-the-sand approach to something so simple. Amazing how a country that's supposedly so developed is so backward in this respect...

07/15/2010, 14:15:08

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Avery
I don't know what planet the final "story" in this comic takes place on, but it's not Planet Earth, because after the initial joke neither the commander nor the soldiers act like service members would in that situation. Yes, our forces are professional, but they also make gay jokes at each other all the time. It's part of the man's world of the armed forces and DADT just drives it home.

07/15/2010, 14:24:08

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Johan Sterk, The Netherlands
In my country the officers throw a party if one of them comes out of the closed and is true to himself. So much for group spirit.  

07/15/2010, 17:51:33

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Pat

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DoubleL
Another fine product brought to you by the Shinseki/Clinton era. 
 I gotta admit, the whole thing is funny in how cheesey it is.  Proves to be about as useful as the Black Baret we got stuck with.

07/16/2010, 03:39:50

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DoubleL
Something else just occured to me.   This little gem was most likely some Majors ticket to getting that covetted Legion of Merit.

07/16/2010, 03:42:14

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ed
The army makes a big thing out of nothing. If gays are apparently good enough to be in the army as long as they are hush hush, then why suddenly not anymore if they come clean? 
 
Anyway, the booklet states that a soldier cannot just 'confess' to being gay to get out of the army because there is always a good investigation of the facts?? What facts? Suppose he is gay, but just never 'caught' with anybody? What does a gay soldier need to do then to be credible? Blow a gunnery sergeant in front of a review board?

07/16/2010, 13:47:13

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formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence
no just answer incredibly invasive questions about your sex life and childhood...

07/17/2010, 01:43:29

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Pat
Damn, if I did that they'd probably declare me straight!

05/12/2011, 22:51:42

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Guest
You have GOT to be kidding me.  This is one big waste of tax dollars. I have served in the Navy, this wasn't an issue....in fact if you didn't bathe.....you got it bad, blanket parties.....as far as any homosexuals getting harassed and all, if there were any onboard ship, they knew enough to keep there pieholes shut.  I'm so sick of the gays getting damn special rights. 

07/17/2010, 20:47:22

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formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence formerly SPC D Smith 98c signals intelligence
name one "special" right... im pretty sure... if you look at it objectively, that anti discrimination laws simply make sure that the persons rights are protected from being infringed upon. there is nothing "special" about the right to freedom from harrassment... or the right to pursue happiness... only bigots attempt to portray the constitutional obligation to protect minorities as "special" rights.

07/18/2010, 04:35:03

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Not in my Navy
Nobody on my ships had 'special treatment,' and I was in for 8.  Everyone sort of knew I was gay, and it just wasn't talked about.  The same was said for a couple other queer* engineers, a BM, an STG and a GM.  The only person I didn't know was gay was a shy girl in Engineering who came out after she got out.  But other than that, it was pretty much don't ask, don't tell, don't give a fuck.  It also has to do with the chain of command.  We had a Crypto officer who was harrassed for being gay (they literally put a "Fag" sign on his stateroom door in Officer's country, for all other officers to see), and the CO wrote them up so bad they were destined to never advance in their career from that point on.  That's worse than a discharge, they had to finish up their 8-year contracts as 03's. AND they didn't even discharge the CryptO after he admitted to being gay. He's working at the Pentagon now.  The XO told me behind closed doors once his mom had served in the Army for 25 years as a lesbian. So they were pretty PC.  The tides have changed. Someday we'll be like the above poster from the Netherlands. Until then...

07/18/2010, 16:41:26

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Amanda Phillips

Not in my Navy
*Queer- not being used in a satirical, discriminating, or derogatory way. As part of the community, simply using the spelled out form of the Q in LGBTQ.

07/18/2010, 16:43:10

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Slicer
If they discharged every gay sailor, the US Navy would consist of three guys in a rowboat stroking together.

08/07/2010, 21:45:27

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Amanda Phillips
The "dont give a f*ck" attitude is the one I am familar with in the military. Any idiot who harrasses someone or, even worse, trys to unofficially investigate someones sexuality is severely punished. They might not get discharged but they probably wish they were. Its the civilians and sh*tbags who make the issue of it. The biggest bigots here are the ones who paint the military as bunch of unenlightened neanderthals.

08/10/2010, 19:47:48

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scamps
"Not Being Discriminated" = "Special Rights"? Mmmmm, I can taste the privilege that coats your post like a delicious gravy...

07/23/2010, 17:01:00

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Pat
I suppose "getting thrown out" is technically "special" treatment...  
I think they'd prefer not getting it, however.

05/12/2011, 22:53:56

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Guest
"I heard you before you had a chance to go too far?"  They done went TOO FAR.  They should have received an Article 15. Instead, they were given duty to teach a "class on harrassment."  Don't ask means just that - it's none of your business. Period.

07/18/2010, 13:14:16

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Harry
Although I checked-off "homosexual tendencies" on my induction form, I was nevertheless drafted in 1969. I was sent to Vietnam where I discovered a vibrant gay American sub-culture among the troops. We were good soldiers. The comic book demonstrates the silliness of this policy. DADT requires soldiers to lie. There is no honor to it, and it undermines unit cohesion by making everybody a suspect or a rat. If we still had a draft, the current DADT supporters would immediately change their tune.

07/19/2010, 11:58:35

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Roni
I wish there were some way to send this to my kid over in Afghanistan.  He has a great sense of humor but is too busy doing something else to be able to read this.

07/21/2010, 20:50:54

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Randy
This book is too funny. 

08/05/2010, 02:25:31

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Slicer
The best part is that the artist made everyone look like they're either about to eat a large dick or that their next invasion will be of somebody's rectum. It's hard to have a comic about homosexual activity when everyone looks like a fag. 
 
Also, anyone notice that the soldier accused of homosexual conduct had no opportunity to have any kind of defense? Just bam, discharged? We don't even know if he did it. Somebody said "I saw this guy" and voila, done. Love that burden of proof right there!

08/07/2010, 21:43:19

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klave
P. 27: "No buts!" - no butts either???

10/10/2010, 19:25:57

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odsjisd
The comic clearly states one cannot be expelled for having a personal sexual oreintation. Its engaging in homosexual activities that says it. Even if you admit youre a homosexual, as per line in the comic, you cannot be discharged for that, only investigated.  
 
Keep it in your god damn faggot pants and there wont be a problem

10/15/2010, 01:00:06

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tym4change
Did you read pages 13 or 22? Even quote-unquote hearing a soldier admit to being homosexual or bisexual is credible information and is grounds for discharge. So no. Even if someone has never even experimented and "kept in in their pants" they could still be dishonorably discharged.

01/11/2011, 17:50:10

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Guest
Really? So Gay / Bisexual soldiers should be required to not have sex or have a relationship! it doesn't occur to you that that might be a tad cruel? I note that Straight soldiers are not expected to "keep it in their pants". Of course has mentioned you could still be discharged even if you "kept it in your pants".

07/17/2011, 16:21:38

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Guest
I'm so glad DADT was taken down.

12/19/2010, 13:09:07

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Guest
It shouldn't have been rmeoved you ass! Fuckin' politically correct bullshit!

03/29/2011, 15:21:09

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Guest
Are you honostly retarted?? Tell me one negative thing that s going to occur due to the reform.. I can't think of one. If someones disclosure of their sexual orientation threatens the integral structure of the group then I believe they should be dismissed although until such a time they should be treated equally.

03/31/2011, 06:28:45

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