CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
During one of the few Republican debates to address gay rights, a soldier posted a YouTube question for former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum about "don't ask, don't tell," which resulted in the soldier being booed by the Orlando, Fla., crowd.
Stephen Hill, who was deployed to Iraq in 2010, said he was initially forced "to lie about who he was" out of fear that he could be discharged due to the military's now-eradicated ban on openly gay service members.
He asked the panel of nine GOP presidential hopefuls, "Under one of your presidencies, do you intent do circumvent the progress that's been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?"
Immediately after the question was asked, the crowd reacted with booing toward the soldier. Moderator Megyn Kelly posed the question directly to Santorum, who said he would repeal the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" if elected and that sex has no place in the ranks.
"What we're doing is playing social experimentation with our military right now, and that's tragic," he said.
The repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" officially took place Tuesday after 17 years of restricting gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members from serving openly. The policy also prevented military personnel from admitting the existence of any same-sex relationships, as that information could have been used as evidence to discharge gay troops. Even now after repeal, out soldiers with partners, spouses, or children face a host of legal and policy-based red tape for benefits that heterosexual troops can use, like shared medical benefits, housing, and travel clearances.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Oprah, Niecy Nash-Betts, Out win big at GLAAD awards
March 15 2024 7:28 PM
Pence says he ‘cannot in good conscience’ endorse Trump
March 15 2024 6:03 PM
From contradictions to compassion, the LDS Church struggles with LGBTQ+ inclusion
March 15 2024 4:30 PM
Kamala Harris celebrates Irish prime minister and his husband at St. Patrick’s Day event
March 15 2024 3:09 PM
Editor Q&A: Florida can 'say gay,' and what motivates LGBTQ+ voters
March 15 2024 2:54 PM
Toxicology experts say death from medications in Nex Benedict case ‘very, very uncommon’
March 15 2024 2:51 PM
Republican Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno’s LGBTQ+ hypocrisy exposed
March 15 2024 1:41 PM
Gay councilman resigns after drunken urination video and alleged assault
March 15 2024 11:16 AM
A new bill would enhance LGBTQ+ youth mental health services
March 15 2024 8:00 AM
Yes, J.K. Rowling, the Nazis persecuted trans people, burned books
March 15 2024 6:00 AM
Alleged shooter who killed two at Oslo Pride stands trial
March 14 2024 9:44 PM
Missing Washington transgender woman found dead in Mexico
March 14 2024 7:34 PM