When the word homosexual is mentioned, it usually attracts the attention of many. Gays are generally considered physically unfit to fight in the military because of their feminine reputation. In reality, gay people have the same burning passion to fight for their country as straight people and should be able to do so while being open about their sexuality. Furthermore, today's homosexual troops do not enjoy the same rights and protections as their heterosexual colleagues (O' Keefe). The people of this country may claim the land of the free, but in reality, the term freedom does not apply to everyone. The freedom of homosexual soldiers, or homosexuals in general, has not yet been established. Many people will say that homosexuals make our military look weak, but people neglect to include the fact that homosexuals are willing to fight for the United States while others sit at home and complain . Furthermore, gays should not only be able to fight for the United States, but also have the choice: to speak openly about their sexuality or not. One man was released with a dishonorable mention for being openly homosexual (O'Keefe). How well does someone fight for the United States if they are at home? Along with this man being discharged from the military, 13,000 other soldiers were discharged for violating DADT or “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” (O'Keefe). In a time like this, when the nation is struggling to recruit competent military personnel, it cannot exclude gay men and women willing and able to serve (Steinman). Gays should be allowed to talk openly about their sexuality otherwise more and more soldiers will be discharged every day which is the real reason our military is weak due to lack of soldiers. Additionally, DADT, a policy passed by Congress that prohibits gay soldiers from being openly gay, is in the middle of the newspaper......Reenhaven Press, 2012. Current Controversies. Rep. "Ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Doesn't End the Problems Facing Gay Service Members." » Washington Post, February 14, 2011. Opposing views in context. Internet. October 31, 2013. Owens, Mackubin Thomas. “Repealing DADT would hurt military morale.” Gays in the military. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Rep. from “The Case Against Gays in the Army.” Wall Street Journal February 2, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. October 31, 2013. Steinman, Alan M. “Gays Already Serve Honorably in the U.S. Military Without Causing Harm.” » Gays in the army. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Current Controversies. Rep. Excerpted from “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in Today’s Military.” GayMilitarySignal.com. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. October 31. 2013.