Gays in the RAF
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You are just the type of person amongst many others on this forum I am hoping not to meet once I get to a Sqaudron.
The boys and girls need to be able to trust you with their lives - if they feel your agenda lies anywhere other than 100% dedication to the job, even to the detriment of self, then that trust will not develop.
I predict you will not even last beyond the first 'black Friday' on IOT.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Gai, life is like that. Away from Brighton some people even read the Sun. The law may say one thing, some people may agree with the law, some people may not. One thing legislation cannot do (yet) is change the brain.
In uniform, or at work, or in the mess, the law may reign. In peoples' minds what they think is up to them.
Nothing to do with this issue but someone I used to work with, I would make him a coffee and smile but at the same time think cn*t. Another was too selfish to be a b!tch but in her case there was no legislation that said I had to smile at her - fat is no illegal yet.
Get the idea?
In uniform, or at work, or in the mess, the law may reign. In peoples' minds what they think is up to them.
Nothing to do with this issue but someone I used to work with, I would make him a coffee and smile but at the same time think cn*t. Another was too selfish to be a b!tch but in her case there was no legislation that said I had to smile at her - fat is no illegal yet.
Get the idea?
You are just the type of person amongst many others on this forum I am hoping not to meet once I get to a Sqaudron.
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Brakedwell,
Sorry dude but those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
At least learn to spell Squadron before criticizing somebody else's speellung!
Sorry dude but those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
At least learn to spell Squadron before criticizing somebody else's speellung!
Last edited by pshakey; 23rd Nov 2008 at 08:30. Reason: Irony
Brakedwell,
Sorry dude but those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
At least learn to spell Squadron before criticizing somebody else's speellung!
Sorry dude but those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
At least learn to spell Squadron before criticizing somebody else's speellung!
A Squadron has pilots. I say again - our friend won't meet any on a Sqaudron . Got it?
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In answer to the first post:
From my experience, no-one cares about sexual orientation. I remember when the bar on "homosexuals" was lifted, and the outrage bus never left the depot - limited to a few splutterings into the Telegraph from the long-retired, I suspect. There may be a knee-jerk to the RAF and MoD going overboard on PC-ness, with people at Pride marches etc. There is no reason at all why gay personnel should not be able to take partners to the Mess or to be open about their private life. There is a caveat: making an extensive issue of any subject of deeply-held personal belief - from gay rights to politics and religion - will quickly turn anyone into the Mess bore. There are probably exceptions to this - flying, drinking and unit sports - but these can be boring as well.
From my experience, no-one cares about sexual orientation. I remember when the bar on "homosexuals" was lifted, and the outrage bus never left the depot - limited to a few splutterings into the Telegraph from the long-retired, I suspect. There may be a knee-jerk to the RAF and MoD going overboard on PC-ness, with people at Pride marches etc. There is no reason at all why gay personnel should not be able to take partners to the Mess or to be open about their private life. There is a caveat: making an extensive issue of any subject of deeply-held personal belief - from gay rights to politics and religion - will quickly turn anyone into the Mess bore. There are probably exceptions to this - flying, drinking and unit sports - but these can be boring as well.
NORMAL does not mean not gay, it simply means that they have a job to do and will do that job to the best of their ability, and will muck in as a team to get that job done. When the job is done, banter will prevail, both bad and evil.
However, GAI bloke, best you make friends with Patsy Palm and her five sisters, because with your attitude, they are all the friends you will have.
Grow up, forget about being gay, hetero or a bicycle, just be a person who gives all and you would get on a lot better.
Shameful
I often pass a few hours in the office surfing PPrune - it occasionally makes me chuckle, even spill my coffee - but the level of predjudice and hate that has been spat out in this thread takes the biscuit, cup and saucer. An honest enquiry was made by a young person who is not only keen to serve in HM Forces but has been selected for one of the best jobs in the world (rivalling being OC Base Support Wing). We should be encouraging this young man and not launching crude invective at him because of the way he is - or wishes to be.
For those who are no longer serving, just accept that the RAF has changed. Inter alia, we are dropping bombs and fighting wars at a level of intensity not seen since WWII. Gone are the days of happy hours, 98,000 strong RAF, the 'Mally' on some tax-free German Base, global route trainers, RAF Gan, and a whole host of predjudices.
Give this guy - and the Service you claim to know and love - a break.
WP
For those who are no longer serving, just accept that the RAF has changed. Inter alia, we are dropping bombs and fighting wars at a level of intensity not seen since WWII. Gone are the days of happy hours, 98,000 strong RAF, the 'Mally' on some tax-free German Base, global route trainers, RAF Gan, and a whole host of predjudices.
Give this guy - and the Service you claim to know and love - a break.
WP
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I am sure there are websites with that sort of material on, but then again I am sure you are well aware of them and have them stored in your favourites. Idiot.
the level of predjudice and hate that has been spat out in this thread
An honest enquiry was made by a young person who is not only keen to serve in HM Forces
He is obviously preparing for his trip on the Discrimination bus, next stop: employment tribunal, compensation and tabloid headlines.
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A professional response from a former IOT instructor was a simple shrug of the shoulders. Nothing out of the ordinary introducing partner to Mrs Staish either.
Full stop
Full stop
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That's assuming that GaiPilot actually exists, and is not (as some, myself included, have ventured to suggest) merely a wind-up to provoke some activity on a quiet day. 
I've found this thread very entertaining personally. Although I didn't get the "Fagot" reference.
I took the red star on the MiG to mean "Bandit"
I've found this thread very entertaining personally. Although I didn't get the "Fagot" reference.
I took the red star on the MiG to mean "Bandit"
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10W, clearly too young and hansome 
The entry in [1.0] The Mikoyan MiG-15 sources still seem more reluctant to use the NATO codename for the MiG-15 than they are with other Soviet aircraft.
The entry in [1.0] The Mikoyan MiG-15 sources still seem more reluctant to use the NATO codename for the MiG-15 than they are with other Soviet aircraft.
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Gai a homosexual lad recently graduated from IOT, Overall a fairly decent chap who im sure will do his job well. However, The fact that at the end of term 1 he decided to "ram it down everyones throats" so to speak (excuse the expression) got people thinking a little differently about him. By acting the only gay in CHOM bar and being generally more camp than a scouts tent on nights out he found his circle of friends to soon rapidly reduce in size.
Take from the above what you will...
Take from the above what you will...
best you make friends with Patsy Palm and her five sisters, because with your attitude, they are all the friends you will have.
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A professional response from a former IOT instructor was a simple shrug of the shoulders
... and the other half in 
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GaiPilot,
you received a lot of useful answers and hints here. And I would like to add one more.
I am civil pilot and worked together with quite a lot of homosexual pilots. You would be surprised how many there are. And they are all doing fine, without any exception.
But ALL of them have/had one thing in common: None made a big deal about it - at least not in the beginning. Of course later everyone knew about it and people sometimes ask "well, how is your partner doing" or something like this.
Well, you will agree - somehow you realize if your workmate is homosexual or not, most of the time. You can say by the way he talks, he behaves and so on, at least most of the time. You might not have to tell them. Just act professionally and stick to your job. For confirmation: I am absolutely liberal and openminded.
In your place I would be careful in the beginning. Don't push it. Just do one step after the other and finish your training first. You will then see how people are dealing with certain topics, how things are going there. And later on people surely will get used to a male-mate who is just showing up with a "husband" instead of a wife. As long as you are gentle with it and not provocative. Maybe the commander's wife as well as your future mates will find it rather interesting once they have the chance to make a self-chosen approach to you.
And sure soon you will know who you can trust and when you better have to keep your mouth shut. You will have mates with whom you can talk in an open way.
But for the moment: make sure for yourself if you are mentally fit for a surrounding like this. The RAF surely is not only a bunch of well-trained tough men in uniforms - you will need a certain spirit to cope with them and their assignment. Last but not least when RAF members here in this thread talk about some "banter" you surely will have to bear. Well, have fun...
Then, if you can surely say "yes", just concentrate on your training in the beginning. Later things will solve on their own, I am sure.
And I am sorry for my rather bad English, it is not my mother tongue.
you received a lot of useful answers and hints here. And I would like to add one more.
I am civil pilot and worked together with quite a lot of homosexual pilots. You would be surprised how many there are. And they are all doing fine, without any exception.
But ALL of them have/had one thing in common: None made a big deal about it - at least not in the beginning. Of course later everyone knew about it and people sometimes ask "well, how is your partner doing" or something like this.
Well, you will agree - somehow you realize if your workmate is homosexual or not, most of the time. You can say by the way he talks, he behaves and so on, at least most of the time. You might not have to tell them. Just act professionally and stick to your job. For confirmation: I am absolutely liberal and openminded.
In your place I would be careful in the beginning. Don't push it. Just do one step after the other and finish your training first. You will then see how people are dealing with certain topics, how things are going there. And later on people surely will get used to a male-mate who is just showing up with a "husband" instead of a wife. As long as you are gentle with it and not provocative. Maybe the commander's wife as well as your future mates will find it rather interesting once they have the chance to make a self-chosen approach to you.
And sure soon you will know who you can trust and when you better have to keep your mouth shut. You will have mates with whom you can talk in an open way.
But for the moment: make sure for yourself if you are mentally fit for a surrounding like this. The RAF surely is not only a bunch of well-trained tough men in uniforms - you will need a certain spirit to cope with them and their assignment. Last but not least when RAF members here in this thread talk about some "banter" you surely will have to bear. Well, have fun...
Then, if you can surely say "yes", just concentrate on your training in the beginning. Later things will solve on their own, I am sure.
And I am sorry for my rather bad English, it is not my mother tongue.