Delegate Marshall Wants Ban On Gays In National Guard

Del. Bob Marshall said he is working with attorneys to complete a bill that would ban gay people from serving in the Virginia National Guard because gay behavior would supersede the military's goal of victory.

Marshall's proposal came just a few days after the Senate voted to repeal the "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" policy. The General Assembly's 2011 regular session will convene on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

"Do you want to be a blood recipient if you are on the battlefield from someone who engages in this kind of behavior?" Marshall asked.  "They are significantly increasing the chance of hepatitis and other pathological diseases."

Some people interviewed for this article said Marshall proposed this bill as a publicity stunt and they aren't surprised, either.

Marshall, R-Manassas, is one of the most conservative members of the General Assembly and this isn't the first time he has proposed anti-gay legislation. Marshall said the reason he is proposing this bill is because Gen. George Washington sent a man accused of sodomy to military court 234 years ago.

The Virginia National Guard is a part-time force of people who are trained to help the military in times of war or disaster.

"The general consensus is this kind of behavior does not meet the demands of the military mission," he said. "You have to ask, 'Why is this the universal experience of the military?'"

He said gay people would have other, more-intimate goals than just victory—ulterior motives that he says would destroy the fabric of the military and jeopardize its mission. Marshall said allowing gays to serve in the military will result in the diversion of military resources away from buying weapons systems, instead having to buy treatment of pathologies spread by "those who engage is same-sex intercourse and other activities."

"There is no tolerance for so-called civil rights of persons who act this way, whereas if you are quiet about it, you don't have to worry about it," Marshall said. "But when it is out of the closet, that is when the problems come in."

Marshall compared banning gays from any military service to not allowing overweight people or those with bad eyesight to serve. And, the Uniform Code of Military Justice prosecutes sodomy, he added.

Women and men are not allowed to shower together in the military, but gay people would still shower with the same sex if they are not banned from serving, Marshall said.

"It is a huge distraction," he said.

Tim O'Connor, the vice president of Equality Prince William, said the organization does not get involved in political issues. However, his personal opinion is that "unfortunately he is my representative."

"I wasn't the least bit surprised when I read it," O'Connor said about Marshall's proposal. "I personally haven't had representation since 1991, which is when he was first elected."

Pete Frisbie, the chairman of the Prince William Democratic Committee, said Marshall proposed this bill as a publicity stunt for his 2011 re-election campaign. He said anyone who wants to serve in the National Guard should be applauded and appreciated.

"These brave men and women ensure our safety and security without regard to the color of our skin, our religion, our age or our sexual orientation," Frisbie said. "We just afford them the same equal opportunity and not violate their civil rights with such discrimination as Marshall is proposing to do."