Gays in the RAF
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
As he said to the confessor many decades ago, "give us a kiss and I'll tell you."
He lost his clearance, the other guy didn't, but I have no diea about the other guy.
He lost his clearance, the other guy didn't, but I have no diea about the other guy.
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Gentlemen I can assure you this is not a wind up. I am deadly serious about my career in the RAF. There appears to be very many prejudices still left in the RAF amongst front line aircrew and I do wonder how many of you actually are Aircrew. Perhaps the Military Aircrew section should be retitled to something a little more appropriate. Just one last thing though, I can take the advice about keeping schtumm about my sexuality and it will be easy to hide, but please please tell me how on earth I can hide my ginger hair?
You see we poofters do have a sense of humour. It sounds like I am going to need one.
Thank you for the PM's I received though.
You see we poofters do have a sense of humour. It sounds like I am going to need one.Thank you for the PM's I received though.
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but is does not mean there are not others who are wondering the very same, who have nowhere else to ask the question.
Don't worry, you'll fit right in... But be aware that the lads know that the soap on the shower floor is a trap...
As someone recently back from the sandpit, heres' my tuppence worth:
As long as you get on with the job, have a sense of humour and I feel as though I can trust you when we're on ops, then quite frankly it doesn't matter one iota. And a big hint: the being able to trust you on ops is the most important point!
And that's the view that the vast majority of RAF professionals will take. Only you can make this an issue. On the plus side, it's just less competition for the ladies for the rest of us
As long as you get on with the job, have a sense of humour and I feel as though I can trust you when we're on ops, then quite frankly it doesn't matter one iota. And a big hint: the being able to trust you on ops is the most important point!
And that's the view that the vast majority of RAF professionals will take. Only you can make this an issue. On the plus side, it's just less competition for the ladies for the rest of us
May I say that being overly self-conscious is one the reasons you are asking the question - other people will be as self conscious as you are - you have a hang up about it? So will others - its thats simple.
The ex-Mil guys I fly with generally are an excellent bunch - with fantastic attitudes - and if anything - are more tolerant than the average guy (or gal).
Good luck!
The ex-Mil guys I fly with generally are an excellent bunch - with fantastic attitudes - and if anything - are more tolerant than the average guy (or gal).
Good luck!
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I think it was a wind-up chaps. (I bit also).
Nevertheless- I think the best advice for any prospective members of the armed forces who are partial to mincing is...
Be yourself. You will be judged on ability, personality and the ability to laugh at oneself. BANTER holds the forces together. Banter, as said before, homes in on whatever sets yopu apart. If you actively identify yourself according to sexuality then the AF do not need or want you. You will only blame any criticism on your abilities on your advertised sexuality and thence discrimination..
To any gay people out there (I think this thread was a windup but)...Dont identify yourself by your sexuality. Prove yourself through aptitude and personality. If you manage that then even if you were accused of being a baby killer the lads will still look to defend you if possible.
Sexuality is not an identity in the armed forces. It never has been and hopefully never will. Being good at your job and integrating forms your identity. You may be a prick, you may be not. It wont be primarily down to your sexuality though.
Nevertheless- I think the best advice for any prospective members of the armed forces who are partial to mincing is...
Be yourself. You will be judged on ability, personality and the ability to laugh at oneself. BANTER holds the forces together. Banter, as said before, homes in on whatever sets yopu apart. If you actively identify yourself according to sexuality then the AF do not need or want you. You will only blame any criticism on your abilities on your advertised sexuality and thence discrimination..
To any gay people out there (I think this thread was a windup but)...Dont identify yourself by your sexuality. Prove yourself through aptitude and personality. If you manage that then even if you were accused of being a baby killer the lads will still look to defend you if possible.
Sexuality is not an identity in the armed forces. It never has been and hopefully never will. Being good at your job and integrating forms your identity. You may be a prick, you may be not. It wont be primarily down to your sexuality though.
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The fact you've even started a thread about this and your choice of handle implies you have issues.
Just go and get on with your job!
There are plenty of other people who are gay in the Air Force and they just do their job and no one cares. Stop bringing it up and do your job.
If someone asks let them know your gay and there need not be any other further discussion.
Whatever you do, don't use it for preferential treatment - that'll get you no where.
Just go and get on with your job!
There are plenty of other people who are gay in the Air Force and they just do their job and no one cares. Stop bringing it up and do your job.
If someone asks let them know your gay and there need not be any other further discussion.
Whatever you do, don't use it for preferential treatment - that'll get you no where.
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Gaypilot's identity is revealed:
Sunday Times (this coming Sunday, 2009)
Ginger Gay Bloke tells all:
"They were brutal. I had to share a room AND WEAR MATCHING OUTFITS with the other guys, who were quite sweet, especially the one from a shagfest called Sleaford."
GGB, in an exclusive to the Daily Pinko Commie Faggot went on to say,"I can't believe their brutality. They made me leave my pet love hamster at the Main Gate with a big nasty man called a SWO. Well, what's all that about? The gingers were put in a separate herding area and uniformed men threw stuff at them, egged on by posh people on horses.
This would not happen in Islington.
You're doing this because I'm ginger, not gay, isn't it?
Too right, you gwar ******.
Better get used to it, it's worse than any playground you've come from, but if you're a good bloke, batty boy or not, you will, er, see the world at least. And that's a promise. (world=afghanistan). Watch out for ladies who explode.
Sunday Times (this coming Sunday, 2009)
Ginger Gay Bloke tells all:
"They were brutal. I had to share a room AND WEAR MATCHING OUTFITS with the other guys, who were quite sweet, especially the one from a shagfest called Sleaford."
GGB, in an exclusive to the Daily Pinko Commie Faggot went on to say,"I can't believe their brutality. They made me leave my pet love hamster at the Main Gate with a big nasty man called a SWO. Well, what's all that about? The gingers were put in a separate herding area and uniformed men threw stuff at them, egged on by posh people on horses.
This would not happen in Islington.
You're doing this because I'm ginger, not gay, isn't it?
Too right, you gwar ******.
Better get used to it, it's worse than any playground you've come from, but if you're a good bloke, batty boy or not, you will, er, see the world at least. And that's a promise. (world=afghanistan). Watch out for ladies who explode.
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BEADWINDOW BEADWINDOW BEADWINDOW
NO DUFF (MAYBE)
Rumour Control report dtg 1711,2025,08 ish.
This thread was started by the Black Omega Mob to weed out undesireables. Visits are about to be carried out with interesting interrogation methods. You will confess your sins.
If (and it is a big if) this thread is pukka my opinion is along the lines of keep it a low profile, anyone with unusual personality traits etc gets stomped on. I hold similar views to AA, in that there is no need to announce it.
As to the rest of 'em, who cares what a buch of bigots who don't know you yet think....
I much prefer to meet someone or argue with them online before I make a snap judgement.
NO DUFF (MAYBE)
Rumour Control report dtg 1711,2025,08 ish.
This thread was started by the Black Omega Mob to weed out undesireables. Visits are about to be carried out with interesting interrogation methods. You will confess your sins.
If (and it is a big if) this thread is pukka my opinion is along the lines of keep it a low profile, anyone with unusual personality traits etc gets stomped on. I hold similar views to AA, in that there is no need to announce it.
As to the rest of 'em, who cares what a buch of bigots who don't know you yet think....
I much prefer to meet someone or argue with them online before I make a snap judgement.
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Slight tangent, I used to work with a bloke who was ex-REME, and we used to swap stories and moans all the time. I started greeting him in the morning as "Grunt" and he would reply "Crab". One morning he called me "Fairy" as he'd found out that aircraft avionics techs were always refered to as Fairies, and promptly got a talking to by the boss! We both had to explain to the boss that no, it wasn't homophobic, discriminatory etc.
It's just banter and I am proud to have been a fairy, even if I have to explain it to people.
It's just banter and I am proud to have been a fairy, even if I have to explain it to people.
After 'Pink Wednesday', it was no longer the case that homosexuality was considered unacceptable in the Armed Forces. Harrassment or discrimination against people for their sexual orientation would not be tolerated.
However, you cannot reasonably expect people to change their attitudes overnight. Many of us will never consider homosexuality to be in any way 'normal', so if you openly flaunt your sexuality don't be surprised if you quickly become very unpopular.
However, you cannot reasonably expect people to change their attitudes overnight. Many of us will never consider homosexuality to be in any way 'normal', so if you openly flaunt your sexuality don't be surprised if you quickly become very unpopular.
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Good luck gai pilot,
I hope you make it !Simple answer is don't be overt and don't be covert - don't hide it but don't flout it.
I have no issue working with gays, I do however have issue with the term 'homophobia' - a phobia is an irrational fear which does not apply as a description of someone's sexuality.
I hope you make it !Simple answer is don't be overt and don't be covert - don't hide it but don't flout it.
I have no issue working with gays, I do however have issue with the term 'homophobia' - a phobia is an irrational fear which does not apply as a description of someone's sexuality.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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"However, you cannot reasonably expect people to change their attitudes overnight. Many of us will never consider homosexuality to be in any way 'normal', so if you openly flaunt your sexuality don't be surprised if you quickly become very unpopular."
When I joined up we were told, in the first week, very forcefully, that just in case we didn't already know or hadn't previously shared military accommodation and facilities before, that anyone caught in a homosexual act, of any sort, would get a very swift DCM followed by six months in Colchester and a dishonourable discharge, (no pun intended). That ruling remained throughout my time in the service and the reasoning remains with me today.
Highly probable that GaiPilot is a wind up, possibly already front seat of something very fast, but if not then I get the impression he has come on here to announce himself rather than to genuinely seek advice, in which case he is already setting off on the wrong foot as yes, he is flaunting his sexuality, who needs that?
When I joined up we were told, in the first week, very forcefully, that just in case we didn't already know or hadn't previously shared military accommodation and facilities before, that anyone caught in a homosexual act, of any sort, would get a very swift DCM followed by six months in Colchester and a dishonourable discharge, (no pun intended). That ruling remained throughout my time in the service and the reasoning remains with me today.
Highly probable that GaiPilot is a wind up, possibly already front seat of something very fast, but if not then I get the impression he has come on here to announce himself rather than to genuinely seek advice, in which case he is already setting off on the wrong foot as yes, he is flaunting his sexuality, who needs that?
Gentleman Aviator
entire British public school system was founded on buggery
Rum, bum and baccy and all that? But I s'pose rum and baccy are non-PC now, so that only leaves ........
teeters (Grammar school oik!
)Edited to conform with the BEaglemeister's prejudices! (see next post)
Last edited by teeteringhead; 18th Nov 2008 at 11:48.