No 93, August 2012

Editorial Queer and antimilitarism is the theme of this Broken Rifle, and Queer & antimilitarism we hope this will create some debate within WRI and beyond. Most articles have been written especially for this issue, with the exception of Tamara K Nopper's article on Don't Ask Don't Tell, which we republish from Against Equality: Don't Ask to Fight Their Wars. Don't Ask Don't Tell was finally repealed in December 2010, but this does not make her arguments less important. Alvine Anderson presents eight arguments why antimilitarism needs queer ­ queer people and a queer analysis. Miles Tanhira follows from this arguing that war resistance needs to be an integral part of a queer struggle, and the recent events in Zim­ babwe show how threatened queer people and organisations are in an escalated conflict. Pelao Carvallo uses the lan­ guage and analysis of queer to look at the situation in Paraguay Gay Pride march in London, July 2005 after the ousting of President Photo by rsambrook Fernando Lugo during a parlia­ mentary coup in June. Yu Min­ Seok describes the problems queers and conscientious objec­ Eight reasons why antimilitarism tor face in South Korea, and links both to masculinity. And Tomato explores the discrimi­ needs queer nation she as a lesbian faced in Militarism is not just a war, an army or a worth defending. Queer analysis that the struggle against a new naval fighter jet. Militarism is a system, a logic foregrounds, cultivates and nurtures base on Jeju island. Finally, Ali and a set of norms that perpetuates and difference is a challenge to the existence of Erol describes the difficult 1recreates our societies and our daily lives. this homogenous "we", and thus to the logic choices gays face in Turkey Queer analysis of power is a political tool that behind the existence of the military. when they are confronted with can help us to challenge these norms. Queer compulsory military service. liberation isn't about equality within a There's a long­standing opposition to These articles show that there is patriarchal and militarist system, it is about the military from queer communities a range of queer perspectives going beyond the politics of inclusion and and other marginalised groups. These when it comes to militarism or creating future just societies that do not 4groups have since long realised that the military service, and there is not merely recreate systems of power under military is not acting in their interests. Now always an easy answer. But they different names. other parts of the antimilitarist movement also show how important and need to recognise this tremendous beneficial it might be for antimili­ Militarism perpetuates rigid gender antimilitarist activism and join with all groups tarists to take on a queer pers­ norms, and is rooted in heterosexist struggling for peace and justice. pective when analysing milita­ ideas of gender that define masculinity rism. As Alvine Anderson writes: 2as physically powerful and aggressive and Movements where queer and "Actively working to make our feminity as meek and passive. Queer and transgendered people ­ or any other movements inclusive does not transgender people, and queer analysis and group ­ feel excluded, not listened to just make us a larger movement, activism, challenge the legitimacy of these 5and not taken seriously, of course fail it makes room for more perspec­ norms, and thus challenge the basis and drastically in accountability. Actively working tives and experiences and ideas of militarism. to make our movements inclusive does not makes us more creative and just make us a larger movement, it makes effective in our work against Militarism depends upon and recreates room for more perspectives and experiences militarism." a racist and hierarchical world order that and makes us more creative and effective in Andreas Speck tells us whose life is worth defending our work against militarism. 3and whose is not. The image of "the other" Thanks also to Mr. Fish and needs to exist as well as a united "we" (white, Against Equality for lots of the heterosexual, ablebodied, man.) whose life is images. continued on page 2 Queer and antimilitarism Why resistance to war is a central and important part of a queer struggle Steve Biko, an anti­apartheid activist, gender lines, the weakest link, in this case a spate of activity in the Global Culture once said the oppressed aspire to be the LGBTI people, bear the brunt of war. The wars being influenced by some American oppressor. This is true when it comes to media, especially the state­owned, is at conservatives pushing an anti­ the effects of war on minorities such as the forefront of churning out homophobic homosexuality agenda in churches, LGBTI people. In most African countries rhetoric and sensationalising stories Zimbabwe has not been spared. Some for instance, the issue of homosexuality involving LGBTI people. Most of the religious fundamentalists who were has been used by power hungry reports are meant to incite hatred and advocating the death penalty for politicians to hoodwink people into violence. homosexuals in Uganda have also been believing that homosexuality is the cause to Zimbabwean churches preaching the of their misery. Hate speech against LGBTI people gospel of hate. fuels the flame of homophobia, making For example in Zimbabwe, whenever them a target of frustrated people who Not to be outdone, traditional leaders the chips are down for politicians they find feel they have carte blanche to harm also deride homosexuality as a western a social issue that is highly emotive and minorities. In such a scenario there is no disease and un­African. This homophobia try to use it to prosecute their private redress even if LGBTI people were to – deeply ingrained in cultural practices – wars, that’s why people are not interested report cases to the police. leads to family and urban violence against in understanding LGBT people, they are LGBTI people and their allies. interested in the existence of the issue War leads to oppression and injustices and meting out instant justice. Politicians being perpetrated against people. All Zimbabwe has been described by feel the urge to keep society at an forms of war contribute to human rights many as a military state: the heavy emotional level so that whenever things abuses and the curtailing of constitutional presence of gun­wielding police officers are not going right for them or their liberties such as freedom of association and soldiers on street corners, coupled political parties they invoke the issue of and freedom of expression. During war with the recruiting of youths into national homosexuality, because people share the situations people find it difficult to get youths service camps, bears clear same hatred and fears as them. access to basic rights like food, water and testimony to this. Most of the youths who health. State­instigated homophobia fuels undergo the military training are Politicians and some religious leaders wider homophobia and has negative appendages of the ruling party and are to so many times, making LGBTI people a when the abusers experience a decrease in pick on an issue that brings numerical effects on the lives and living conditions of trained to unleash terror on anyone with target for hate and violence. power in other aspects of their lives. Access to advantage, meanwhile the minority of LGBTI people. When it comes to dissenting opinions. Being given credit for small arms, military training, or exposure to homosexual people become a perfect accessing health services for instance, “work” carried out gives them carte War and militarism reinforce gender norms intense violence and trauma in conflict field for those prosecuting personal wars. they are driven underground and most die blanche to attack LGBTI people as an act and roles, and punish those who go beyond situations, may exacerbate intimate partner So by bringing in an issue that many in silence because of a system which of patriotism. The ruling party ideology these, hence LGBTI people are ostracised and violence, with impunity for military personnel in people do not fully understand, and criminalises their conduct. blames the opposition for inviting targeted under attack. This is evidenced in the cases of violence against women, violations blocking any avenues for people to sanctions on the country, hence bringing militarisation of sport, resulting in adverse committed by peace­keeping forces, and access information, these politicians hope Fundamentalism gains momentum in about suffering. This has managed to effects on some LGBTI people who are into violence and abuse of women living and to get people to rally to them. war situations as people become guarded invoke anger in may people who view the such disciplines. Young people are lured into working around military bases. Militarised over the things that they believe in; any opposition as the source of their misery joining sporting teams, which are supported by governments may also use force against their There is no doubt that war breeds diversity is treated with suspicion and is and, because they are funded by the the army, and once they join they automatically own civilians, suspend the rule of law in an untold misery for those who are in oppressed. Those people with dissenting west, they are also seen as sympathetic have to be involved in the military forces. This “emergency” period, or use “anti­terrorism” positions of less power, as the power voices become a target. This affects to the LGBTI agenda. This link between is particularly true for young women into laws to suppress pro­democracy movements or dynamics come into play. When people activists who try to do their work in such a the sanctions, the opposition and soccer. These women are forced to dress and to silence human rights defenders. Institutions are polarised along political, racial, and volatile environment. As Africa witnesses homosexuality has been made reference behave in a societally accepted way, and those such as police forces, aid organisations, who cross the boundaries are pushed into line religious establishments, the media, schools, with harsh punishment or dismissal from both and the judiciary, can also be militarised so that the team and army. the lines between military and civilian life are Continued from page 1 Queer people are organising against this blurred. "pinkwashing" of their struggles, and Aside from sexual and domestic violence, LGBTQ people remain under attack refuse to be used to legitimise death and women also suffer other forms of gender­ As militarism rears its ugly head in by militaries and governments all destruction. Together we must show that specific violence before, during and after Zimbabwe, the LGBTI community has been at over the world. The state an antimilitarist world is a really secure conflicts. For example, women may not have the receiving end. The strategy to instill fear in 6discriminates against and sanctions world for LGBTQ people and others. access to adequate reproductive health the hearts and minds of the masses under the violence against LGBTQ people, hate services in times of crisis, and women and guise of maintaining peace and security is itself crime rates rise in militarised Any change starts at home. A LGBTI communities may experience a a threat to the peaceful existence of people as, communities, at the same time as the heterosexist, patriarchal culture backlash against their sexual rights. it often leads to violation of minorities’ rights. possibilities for norm breakers and other promotes and legitimises war. A marginalised groups are restrained. 8movement working against war must According to reports, one consequence of Miles Rutendo Tanhira Radical movements must stand in challenge these norms within their own militarism is the use of sexual violence to solidarity with those most affected by movements and communities as well as in assert power over others. Militarism tends to Miles Rutendo Tanhira is a journalist, militarism, which include LGBTQ people. society as a whole. We must address all privilege a particular form of aggressive human rights defender, LGBTI rights activist, issues of structural, personal, and intimate masculinity, and thus rape is often used as a peace activist and feminist. Miles also has a The military is currently using violence wherever they exist, to create tactic of war, to drive fear and to humiliate passion for photography and other creative LGBTQ communities to legitimise truly secure and sustainable cultures that women and their communities. Sexual violence ways of speaking out against injustices. their activities. By creating a (false) promote peace and justice. in conflict and post­conflict situations is used to Currently Miles is the Information and 7public image of a "modern" and "open" Alvine Andersson reinforce gendered and political hierarchies. On Communications Officer of WRI's affiliate Gays military, they seek to create acceptance a different level, intimate partner violence is and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ). for militarism and military "solutions". Alvine Andersson is active in the Swedish another form of exerting control – particularly antimilitarist network Ofog. 2 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 Queer and antimilitarism WRI on the harass­ ment of GALZ Why resistance to war is a central and important part War Resisters' International (WRI), the international network of pacifist orga­ nisations with more than 80 affiliates of a queer struggle in more than 40 countries, calls for an end to the harassment of our affiliate Steve Biko, an anti­apartheid activist, gender lines, the weakest link, in this case a spate of activity in the Global Culture Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe once said the oppressed aspire to be the LGBTI people, bear the brunt of war. The wars being influenced by some American (GALZ) and to the physical attacks on oppressor. This is true when it comes to media, especially the state­owned, is at conservatives pushing an anti­ members of GALZ. Furthermore, WRI the effects of war on minorities such as the forefront of churning out homophobic homosexuality agenda in churches, strongly condemns the violation of LGBTI people. In most African countries rhetoric and sensationalising stories Zimbabwe has not been spared. Some basic human rights of the members of for instance, the issue of homosexuality involving LGBTI people. Most of the religious fundamentalists who were GALZ, such as freedom of associa­ has been used by power hungry reports are meant to incite hatred and advocating the death penalty for tion, freedom from arbitrary arrest, politicians to hoodwink people into violence. homosexuals in Uganda have also been and freedom from torture and degra­ believing that homosexuality is the cause to Zimbabwean churches preaching the ding treatment. of their misery. Hate speech against LGBTI people gospel of hate. On 11 August 2012, GALZ launched fuels the flame of homophobia, making its report on violations of LGBTI rights For example in Zimbabwe, whenever them a target of frustrated people who Not to be outdone, traditional leaders in Zimbabwe with a press conference the chips are down for politicians they find feel they have carte blanche to harm also deride homosexuality as a western at the GALZ office in Harare. Follow­ a social issue that is highly emotive and minorities. In such a scenario there is no disease and un­African. This homophobia ing the press conference, GALZ try to use it to prosecute their private redress even if LGBTI people were to – deeply ingrained in cultural practices – members celebrated the successful wars, that’s why people are not interested report cases to the police. leads to family and urban violence against launch with a party, which was then in understanding LGBT people, they are LGBTI people and their allies. raided by police, who detained the 44 interested in the existence of the issue War leads to oppression and injustices members of GALZ present ­ 31 men and meting out instant justice. Politicians being perpetrated against people. All Zimbabwe has been described by and 13 women. All were subjected to feel the urge to keep society at an forms of war contribute to human rights many as a military state: the heavy beatings and abuse while in detention, emotional level so that whenever things abuses and the curtailing of constitutional presence of gun­wielding police officers but released the following morning are not going right for them or their liberties such as freedom of association and soldiers on street corners, coupled without charge. political parties they invoke the issue of and freedom of expression. During war with the recruiting of youths into national A few days later, the police started a homosexuality, because people share the situations people find it difficult to get youths service camps, bears clear A common sight: police monitoring the Milton park neighborhood; GALZ offices are in this area. hunt for those detained on 11 August, same hatred and fears as them. access to basic rights like food, water and testimony to this. Most of the youths who (Photo by Miles Tanhira) detaining three who they encountered health. State­instigated homophobia fuels undergo the military training are at home for questioning, and ordering Politicians and some religious leaders wider homophobia and has negative appendages of the ruling party and are to so many times, making LGBTI people a when the abusers experience a decrease in those who they did not find to report to pick on an issue that brings numerical effects on the lives and living conditions of trained to unleash terror on anyone with target for hate and violence. power in other aspects of their lives. Access to their local police station. While those advantage, meanwhile the minority of LGBTI people. When it comes to dissenting opinions. Being given credit for small arms, military training, or exposure to detained have been released, this homosexual people become a perfect accessing health services for instance, “work” carried out gives them carte War and militarism reinforce gender norms intense violence and trauma in conflict hunt again serves as intimidation ­ a field for those prosecuting personal wars. they are driven underground and most die blanche to attack LGBTI people as an act and roles, and punish those who go beyond situations, may exacerbate intimate partner clear attempt to make GALZ's work So by bringing in an issue that many in silence because of a system which of patriotism. The ruling party ideology these, hence LGBTI people are ostracised and violence, with impunity for military personnel in impossible. Subsequently, on 20 Au­ people do not fully understand, and criminalises their conduct. blames the opposition for inviting targeted under attack. This is evidenced in the cases of violence against women, violations gust, police raided the office of GALZ blocking any avenues for people to sanctions on the country, hence bringing militarisation of sport, resulting in adverse committed by peace­keeping forces, and and seized computers and literature. access information, these politicians hope Fundamentalism gains momentum in about suffering. This has managed to effects on some LGBTI people who are into violence and abuse of women living and The present harassment of GALZ and to get people to rally to them. war situations as people become guarded invoke anger in may people who view the such disciplines. Young people are lured into working around military bases. Militarised its members follows earlier attempts over the things that they believe in; any opposition as the source of their misery joining sporting teams, which are supported by governments may also use force against their at intimidation. In May 2010, police There is no doubt that war breeds diversity is treated with suspicion and is and, because they are funded by the the army, and once they join they automatically own civilians, suspend the rule of law in an raided the office of GALZ and arrested untold misery for those who are in oppressed. Those people with dissenting west, they are also seen as sympathetic have to be involved in the military forces. This “emergency” period, or use “anti­terrorism” two members of staff. A few days later positions of less power, as the power voices become a target. This affects to the LGBTI agenda. This link between is particularly true for young women into laws to suppress pro­democracy movements or the police also raided the home of the dynamics come into play. When people activists who try to do their work in such a the sanctions, the opposition and soccer. These women are forced to dress and to silence human rights defenders. Institutions director of GALZ, who was not at are polarised along political, racial, and volatile environment. As Africa witnesses homosexuality has been made reference behave in a societally accepted way, and those such as police forces, aid organisations, home at the time. Both staff who had who cross the boundaries are pushed into line religious establishments, the media, schools, been arrested were released after a with harsh punishment or dismissal from both and the judiciary, can also be militarised so that few days, and acquitted a few months the team and army. the lines between military and civilian life are later, but items seized during the raid Queer people are organising against this blurred. "pinkwashing" of their struggles, and have not yet been returned. Aside from sexual and domestic violence, Established in 1990, GALZ has been LGBTQ people remain under attack refuse to be used to legitimise death and women also suffer other forms of gender­ As militarism rears its ugly head in affiliated with WRI since 2001, taking by militaries and governments all destruction. Together we must show that specific violence before, during and after Zimbabwe, the LGBTI community has been at an active role in our activities and over the world. The state an antimilitarist world is a really secure conflicts. For example, women may not have the receiving end. The strategy to instill fear in currently helping us prepare our 2014 6discriminates against and sanctions world for LGBTQ people and others. access to adequate reproductive health the hearts and minds of the masses under the international conference in South violence against LGBTQ people, hate services in times of crisis, and women and guise of maintaining peace and security is itself Africa provisionally titled "Resisting crime rates rise in militarised Any change starts at home. A LGBTI communities may experience a a threat to the peaceful existence of people as, the continuums of violence". We are communities, at the same time as the heterosexist, patriarchal culture backlash against their sexual rights. it often leads to violation of minorities’ rights. fully aware of the extent of Zimbabwe possibilities for norm breakers and other promotes and legitimises war. A state violence against its own citizens. marginalised groups are restrained. 8movement working against war must According to reports, one consequence of Miles Rutendo Tanhira Whether fuelled by greed, the lust for Radical movements must stand in challenge these norms within their own militarism is the use of sexual violence to power or homophobia, these forms of solidarity with those most affected by movements and communities as well as in assert power over others. Militarism tends to Miles Rutendo Tanhira is a journalist, violence are connected. The violation militarism, which include LGBTQ people. society as a whole. We must address all privilege a particular form of aggressive human rights defender, LGBTI rights activist, issues of structural, personal, and intimate of any human right weakens respect masculinity, and thus rape is often used as a peace activist and feminist. Miles also has a for human rights themselves. Above The military is currently using violence wherever they exist, to create tactic of war, to drive fear and to humiliate passion for photography and other creative all, the harassment of human right LGBTQ communities to legitimise truly secure and sustainable cultures that women and their communities. Sexual violence ways of speaking out against injustices. defenders ­ such as GALZ, who have their activities. By creating a (false) promote peace and justice. in conflict and post­conflict situations is used to Currently Miles is the Information and prepared a serious report on Zimbab­ 7public image of a "modern" and "open" Alvine Andersson reinforce gendered and political hierarchies. On Communications Officer of WRI's affiliate Gays we's violations of lesbians, gays and military, they seek to create acceptance a different level, intimate partner violence is and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ). transsexuals ­ is a warning to all those for militarism and military "solutions". Alvine Andersson is active in the Swedish another form of exerting control – particularly antimilitarist network Ofog. who oppose the abuse of state power. The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 3 Queer and antimilitarism

its culture and goals. We will also have a more culture that suggests they should stay in the closet difficult time challenging projects of privatization, in the name of military stability and national Why I oppose repealing DADT & passage of the the incurring of huge amounts of debt, and the security. Rather, it is to discourage the erosion of rights and protections in other attractiveness of military enlistment as well as countries—efforts buttressed by the threat of martial citizenship, a process that provides DreamAct military action—which ultimately affects people in marginalized groups a “pathway to citizenship” via the United States. military service. More, opposition to people One of the first books I read about Asian Of course I am not the first person to raise serving in the military is also grounded in an American feminism was the anthology these concerns. As the comment from Pegues, understanding that the military negatively impacts Dragon ladies: Asian American feminists with which I began, reveals, there are gay, lesbian, practically everyone in the world (including those in breathe fire. In one of the essays, author bisexual, and transgender folks, many of them the United States), and in particular people of color Juliana Pegues describes scenes from a non­white and non­middle class, who promote a and/or women and/or gays and lesbians, and not “radical Asian women’s movement.” One queer politic that challenges the heternormative just those who are discriminated against while such scene involves lesbian and bisexual desires of mainstream movements, including that serving or who are expected to serve as pathways Asian and Pacific Islanders marching at Gay pushed by some LGBT organizations and their to citizenship or access to education. Pride with signs reading “Gay white soldiers purported “allies” within the Democratic party and Along with folks like Lucas, there are in Asia? Not my liberation!” and “ends with heternormative people of color organizations. immigrants and their allies challenging us to the absence of all soldiers, gay and straight, Some of these folks organize for better economic rethink the possible passage of the DREAM Act from any imperialist army.” opportunities, access to housing, and safer because of its pro­military provision and for Although it has been over a decade since existences in the civilian sector for poor and basically “making a pool of young, bilingual, U.S.­ I read this passage, I return to this “scene” as working­class LGBTs. And some also openly educated, high­achieving students available to the I watch far too many liberals and oppose military recruitment or challenge the push recruiters.” Some have withdrawn their support for progressives praise the possible repeal of for gays and lesbians to (openly) serve in the the current version of the act in objection to its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) as well as the military by countering with “Don’t serve” as a terms. For example, a letter from one such possible passage of the DREAM Act slogan. For example, Cecilia Lucas, who grew up person, Raúl Al­qaraz Ochoa, states: (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien in a military family, writes in a 2010 Counter Punch Passage of the DREAM Act would definitely be Minors Act). article: a step forward in the struggle for Migrant Justice. In some ways, I understand why people “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is bad policy. It Yet the politicians in Washington have hijacked this are supportive of such gestures. The idea encourages deceit and, specifically, staying in the struggle from its original essence and turned that certain identities and status categories, closet, which contributes to internalized as well as dreams into ugly political nightmares. I refuse to be such as gay or lesbian or (undocumented) public homophobia, thus perpetuating a part of anything that turns us into political pawns discrimination and violence against LGBT people. of dirty Washington politics. I want my people to be immigrants are either outlawed or treated as The image was created by Chris Vargas for Against equality: Queer challenges to the social problems has rightfully generated a politics of inclusion. Banning gay people from serving in the military, “legalized” but at what cost? We all want it bad. I great deal of sympathy. And the very real however, is something I support. Not because I’m hear it. I’ve lived it. but I think it’s a matter of how ways that people experience marginalization extremely beneficial to the U.S. military and regarding the U.S. military as one of the main anti­gay, nope, I’m one of those queer folks myself. much we’re willing to compromise in order to win or discrimination—ranging from a lack of the country as a whole,’ said Margaret Stock, vehicles in the expansion and enforcement of I’m also a woman and would support a law against victories or crumbs…So if I support the DREAM certain rights to violence, including a retired West Point professor who studies U.S. imperialism, heterosexuality, white women serving in the military. Not because I think Act, does this mean I am okay with our people death—certainly indicates that solutions are immigrants in the military. She said it made supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and women are less capable. I would support laws being used as political pawns? Does this mean needed. Further, far too many non­whites ‘perfect’ sense to attach it to the defense­ repression against political dissent and against any group of people serving in the military: that my hands will be smeared with the same have experienced disproportionate authorization bill. people’s movements in the United States and people of color, tall people, people between the bloodshed the U.S. spills all over the world? Does disadvantages, surveillance, and discipline Louis Caldera, secretary of the Army abroad. Far too many liberals and ages of 25 and 53, white men, poor people, people this mean I am okay with blaming my mother and from both DADT and anti­immigrant under President Bill Clinton, said that as they progressives, including those critical of who have children, people who vote for my father for migrating “illegally” to the U.S.? Am I legislation. For example, Black women, struggled to meet recruiting goals, ‘recruiters policies or the squashing of political dissent, Democrats—however you draw the boundaries of willing to surrender to all that in exchange for a some of whom are not lesbians, have been at stations were telling me it would be take an ambivalent stance on the U.S. a group, I would support a law banning them from benefit? Maybe it’s easier for me to say that “I can” disproportionately discharged from the U.S. extremely valuable for these patriotic people military. It is unclear what makes some of military service. Because I support outlawing the military under DADT. And anti­immigrant to be allowed to serve our country.’ these folks unwilling to openly oppose the military. And until that has happened, I support legislation, policing measures, and vigilante Additionally, in a 2009 Department of military state. Perhaps it’s easier than downsizing it by any means necessary, including, xenophobic racism is motivated by and Defense strategic plan report, the second dealing with the backlash from a variety of in this one particular arena, sacrificing civil rights in reinforces white supremacy and white strategic goal, “Shape and maintain a people, including the many people of color the interest of human rights… nationalism. mission­ready All Volunteer Force,” lists the and/or women who are now building long­ It is tricky to write an essay that accepts Yet both the repeal of DADT and the DREAM Act as a possible recruitment tool term careers in the military. Or maybe it’s discrimination as a means to an end. In what passage of the DREAM Act will increase the under one of the “performance objectives”: more amenable to building careers as remains a homophobic, racist, sexist society, I fear size and power of the U.S. military and the Recruit the All­Volunteer Force by finding pundits in both corporate and progressive enabling a slippery slope of arguments for identity­ Department of Defense, which is already the smart ways to sustain quality assurance even media, both of which may be critical of some based discrimination. Although, of course, the largest U.S. employer. Repealing DADT will as we expand markets to fill manning at defense spending or “wasted” (read entire notion of citizens who are “protected” by a make it easier for gays and lesbians to controlled costs as demonstrated by unsuccessful) military efforts but not military discriminates against people based on the openly serve and the Dream Act in its present achieving quarterly recruiting quality and necessarily of U.S. militarism. identity factor of nationality. Hence my point about incarnation may provide a pathway to legal quantity goals, and through expansion of the Whatever the case, the inclusion of more human rights trumping civil rights. My argument residency and possibly citizenship for some Military Accessions Vital to the National gays and lesbians and/or undocumented that we should be fighting against, not for, gay undocumented immigrant young people if Interest (MAVNI) program and the once­ immigrant youth in the U.S. military is not an people’s inclusion in the military is not actually they serve two years in the U.S. military or medically restricted populations, as well as ethical project given that both gestures are about gay people at all. Nor is it about wanting spend an equal amount of time in college. the DREAM initiative. willing to have our communities serve as others to do our dirty work for us. As I said, I think Unsurprisingly, the latter, being pushed What concerns me is that far too many mercenaries in exchange for certain rights, everyone should be banned from military service. by Democrats, is getting support from “many liberals and progressives, including those some of which are never fully guaranteed in But if the goal is demilitarization, fighting for even with close ties to the military and higher who serve as professional commentators on a homophobic and white supremacist more people to have the right to join the military education.” As the Wall Street Times reports: cable news and/or progressive publications country. Nor is it pragmatic. By supporting makes no sense. There are plenty of other civil Pentagon officials support the Dream Act. (and some with a seemingly deep affinity for the diversification of the U.S. military we rights denied gay people for which we still need to In its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010­ the Democratic Party) have been praising the undermine radical democratic possibilities by fight—civil rights that do not trample on others’ 2012, the Office of the Under Secretary of passage of the DREAM Act. Unsurprising is giving the military state more people, many of human rights. Defense for Personnel and Readiness cited that many of the same people support the whom will ultimately die in combat or develop As Lucas’s comments reveal, opposing LGBT the Dream Act as a ‘smart’ way to attract repeal of DADT. While a sincere concern PTSD and health issues and/or continue folks from serving openly in the military is not to quality recruits to the all­volunteer force… about discrimination may unite both gestures, nurturing long­term relationships with the condone the harassment and unfair surveillance ‘Passage of the Dream Act would be so too does a lack of critical perspective U.S. military, including a political affinity with that they experience; nor is it meant to support a 4 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 Queer and antimilitarism

its culture and goals. We will also have a more culture that suggests they should stay in the closet Housmans Peace difficult time challenging projects of privatization, in the name of military stability and national Diary 2013 Why I oppose repealing DADT & passage of the the incurring of huge amounts of debt, and the security. Rather, it is to discourage the erosion of rights and protections in other attractiveness of military enlistment as well as countries—efforts buttressed by the threat of martial citizenship, a process that provides DreamAct military action—which ultimately affects people in marginalized groups a “pathway to citizenship” via the United States. military service. More, opposition to people One of the first books I read about Asian Of course I am not the first person to raise serving in the military is also grounded in an American feminism was the anthology these concerns. As the comment from Pegues, understanding that the military negatively impacts Dragon ladies: Asian American feminists with which I began, reveals, there are gay, lesbian, practically everyone in the world (including those in breathe fire. In one of the essays, author bisexual, and transgender folks, many of them the United States), and in particular people of color Juliana Pegues describes scenes from a non­white and non­middle class, who promote a and/or women and/or gays and lesbians, and not “radical Asian women’s movement.” One queer politic that challenges the heternormative just those who are discriminated against while such scene involves lesbian and bisexual desires of mainstream movements, including that serving or who are expected to serve as pathways Asian and Pacific Islanders marching at Gay pushed by some LGBT organizations and their to citizenship or access to education. Pride with signs reading “Gay white soldiers purported “allies” within the Democratic party and Along with folks like Lucas, there are in Asia? Not my liberation!” and “ends with heternormative people of color organizations. immigrants and their allies challenging us to the absence of all soldiers, gay and straight, Some of these folks organize for better economic rethink the possible passage of the DREAM Act from any imperialist army.” opportunities, access to housing, and safer because of its pro­military provision and for Although it has been over a decade since existences in the civilian sector for poor and basically “making a pool of young, bilingual, U.S.­ I read this passage, I return to this “scene” as working­class LGBTs. And some also openly educated, high­achieving students available to the I watch far too many liberals and oppose military recruitment or challenge the push recruiters.” Some have withdrawn their support for progressives praise the possible repeal of for gays and lesbians to (openly) serve in the the current version of the act in objection to its ISBN 978 0 85283 273 8 Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) as well as the military by countering with “Don’t serve” as a terms. For example, a letter from one such UK £8.95 possible passage of the DREAM Act slogan. For example, Cecilia Lucas, who grew up person, Raúl Al­qaraz Ochoa, states: 200 pages (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien in a military family, writes in a 2010 Counter Punch Passage of the DREAM Act would definitely be Minors Act). article: a step forward in the struggle for Migrant Justice. The 2013 Housmans Peace In some ways, I understand why people “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is bad policy. It Yet the politicians in Washington have hijacked this Diary is the 60th edition. It are supportive of such gestures. The idea encourages deceit and, specifically, staying in the struggle from its original essence and turned includes quotations, daily that certain identities and status categories, closet, which contributes to internalized as well as dreams into ugly political nightmares. I refuse to be anniversaries (for such as gay or lesbian or (undocumented) public homophobia, thus perpetuating a part of anything that turns us into political pawns celebration or protest), and discrimination and violence against LGBT people. of dirty Washington politics. I want my people to be immigrants are either outlawed or treated as The image was created by Chris Vargas for Against equality: Queer challenges to the a 1600­strong directory of social problems has rightfully generated a politics of inclusion. Banning gay people from serving in the military, “legalized” but at what cost? We all want it bad. I peace and related great deal of sympathy. And the very real however, is something I support. Not because I’m hear it. I’ve lived it. but I think it’s a matter of how organisations worldwide. ways that people experience marginalization extremely beneficial to the U.S. military and regarding the U.S. military as one of the main anti­gay, nope, I’m one of those queer folks myself. much we’re willing to compromise in order to win The theme of this year's or discrimination—ranging from a lack of the country as a whole,’ said Margaret Stock, vehicles in the expansion and enforcement of I’m also a woman and would support a law against victories or crumbs…So if I support the DREAM feature articles is "Taking certain rights to violence, including a retired West Point professor who studies U.S. imperialism, heterosexuality, white women serving in the military. Not because I think Act, does this mean I am okay with our people risks to resist" ­ looking at death—certainly indicates that solutions are immigrants in the military. She said it made supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and women are less capable. I would support laws being used as political pawns? Does this mean the bravery of nonviolent needed. Further, far too many non­whites ‘perfect’ sense to attach it to the defense­ repression against political dissent and against any group of people serving in the military: that my hands will be smeared with the same activism for peace and have experienced disproportionate authorization bill. people’s movements in the United States and people of color, tall people, people between the bloodshed the U.S. spills all over the world? Does justice. disadvantages, surveillance, and discipline Louis Caldera, secretary of the Army abroad. Far too many liberals and ages of 25 and 53, white men, poor people, people this mean I am okay with blaming my mother and from both DADT and anti­immigrant under President Bill Clinton, said that as they progressives, including those critical of who have children, people who vote for my father for migrating “illegally” to the U.S.? Am I Get it at legislation. For example, Black women, struggled to meet recruiting goals, ‘recruiters policies or the squashing of political dissent, Democrats—however you draw the boundaries of willing to surrender to all that in exchange for a http://housmans.com some of whom are not lesbians, have been at stations were telling me it would be take an ambivalent stance on the U.S. a group, I would support a law banning them from benefit? Maybe it’s easier for me to say that “I can” disproportionately discharged from the U.S. extremely valuable for these patriotic people military. It is unclear what makes some of military service. Because I support outlawing the military under DADT. And anti­immigrant to be allowed to serve our country.’ these folks unwilling to openly oppose the military. And until that has happened, I support legislation, policing measures, and vigilante Additionally, in a 2009 Department of military state. Perhaps it’s easier than downsizing it by any means necessary, including, xenophobic racism is motivated by and Defense strategic plan report, the second dealing with the backlash from a variety of in this one particular arena, sacrificing civil rights in reinforces white supremacy and white strategic goal, “Shape and maintain a people, including the many people of color the interest of human rights… nationalism. mission­ready All Volunteer Force,” lists the and/or women who are now building long­ It is tricky to write an essay that accepts Yet both the repeal of DADT and the DREAM Act as a possible recruitment tool term careers in the military. Or maybe it’s discrimination as a means to an end. In what passage of the DREAM Act will increase the under one of the “performance objectives”: more amenable to building careers as remains a homophobic, racist, sexist society, I fear size and power of the U.S. military and the Recruit the All­Volunteer Force by finding pundits in both corporate and progressive enabling a slippery slope of arguments for identity­ Department of Defense, which is already the smart ways to sustain quality assurance even media, both of which may be critical of some based discrimination. Although, of course, the largest U.S. employer. Repealing DADT will as we expand markets to fill manning at defense spending or “wasted” (read entire notion of citizens who are “protected” by a make it easier for gays and lesbians to controlled costs as demonstrated by unsuccessful) military efforts but not military discriminates against people based on the openly serve and the Dream Act in its present achieving quarterly recruiting quality and necessarily of U.S. militarism. identity factor of nationality. Hence my point about incarnation may provide a pathway to legal quantity goals, and through expansion of the Whatever the case, the inclusion of more human rights trumping civil rights. My argument residency and possibly citizenship for some Military Accessions Vital to the National gays and lesbians and/or undocumented that we should be fighting against, not for, gay undocumented immigrant young people if Interest (MAVNI) program and the once­ immigrant youth in the U.S. military is not an people’s inclusion in the military is not actually they serve two years in the U.S. military or medically restricted populations, as well as ethical project given that both gestures are about gay people at all. Nor is it about wanting spend an equal amount of time in college. the DREAM initiative. willing to have our communities serve as others to do our dirty work for us. As I said, I think Unsurprisingly, the latter, being pushed What concerns me is that far too many mercenaries in exchange for certain rights, everyone should be banned from military service. by Democrats, is getting support from “many liberals and progressives, including those some of which are never fully guaranteed in But if the goal is demilitarization, fighting for even with close ties to the military and higher who serve as professional commentators on a homophobic and white supremacist more people to have the right to join the military education.” As the Wall Street Times reports: cable news and/or progressive publications country. Nor is it pragmatic. By supporting makes no sense. There are plenty of other civil Pentagon officials support the Dream Act. (and some with a seemingly deep affinity for the diversification of the U.S. military we rights denied gay people for which we still need to In its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010­ the Democratic Party) have been praising the undermine radical democratic possibilities by fight—civil rights that do not trample on others’ 2012, the Office of the Under Secretary of passage of the DREAM Act. Unsurprising is giving the military state more people, many of human rights. Defense for Personnel and Readiness cited that many of the same people support the whom will ultimately die in combat or develop As Lucas’s comments reveal, opposing LGBT the Dream Act as a ‘smart’ way to attract repeal of DADT. While a sincere concern PTSD and health issues and/or continue folks from serving openly in the military is not to quality recruits to the all­volunteer force… about discrimination may unite both gestures, nurturing long­term relationships with the condone the harassment and unfair surveillance ‘Passage of the Dream Act would be so too does a lack of critical perspective U.S. military, including a political affinity with that they experience; nor is it meant to support a The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 5 Queer and antimilitarism because I have papers, right? I’d like to think breaking bread with and seriously white­run progressive media and progressive that it’s because my political principles will considering the political views of LGBT folks institutions, such as some labor unions) not allow me to do so, regardless of my who take radical political stances against the without experiencing some backlash from Out of the Closet citizenship status or personal benefit at military state (as well as engage in non­ other progressives, particularly people of stake. Strong movements that achieve middle­class aesthetics)? And why do many color. In turn, critical questions about how “In the time of a parliamentary coup as long as the left wasn't too scandalous weeks after the coup we have seen how greater victories are those that stand in straight progressives fight for LGBT folks to immigrant rights movements may support, d'etat, the machos bloom, everything about it. Those same borders shrunk the rightists have come out of the closet. solidarity with all oppressed people of the openly serve in the military—one of the most rather than undermine U.S. hegemony or becomes heroic and manly. Among the above and on the right: the church could The parliamentary coup d'etat of 22 world and never gain access to rights at the dangerous employment sites that requires its white supremacy, have been taken off the abusers and the abused, nobody wants to give its opinions in order to try to gain June 2012 and its consequences have expense of other oppressed groups. laborers to kill and control others, including table at most progressive gatherings, large be history's pansy. We are all men influence over the executive branch once allowed for a movement of the symbolic I have come to a deeply painful decision: non­whites and/or LGBTs, in the name of and small. Subsequently, while some may according to that which is imposed as the again. social normality and what it permits. The I can no longer in good political conscience empire—but rarely discuss how working­ express concern about the DREAM Act being official dispute. Many flags, many Taking this normality back to the result has been the appearance of support the DREAM Act because the class, poor, and/or of color LGBTs are treated part of a defense­authorization bill, there are anthems, much shouting, many orders, previous situation, with a 'just equilibrium' discourses that are xenophobic, essence of a beautiful dream has been and politically organize for opportunities in probably fewer who will openly take stands everything very militant. Luckily the that is more reactionary and conservative, homophobic, transphobic and detained by a colonial nightmare seeking to the civilian sector job market where they are against the bill given the threat of being resistance is odd and so there is formed a part of the public agenda for lesbiphobic...the whole range and across fund and fuel the U.S. empire machine. also expected to remain closeted, subject to labeled xenophobic by some progressives resistance to such orthodox masculinity Christian fundamentalist organisations, the entire spectrum of political discussion, Unfortunately, the willingness of folks like homophobic harassment and surveillance, or unwilling to reject the U.S. military state or and militarism, from the right to the left. especially the Catholics. Pro­life and anti­ demonstrating how the changes in the Lucas and Al­qaraz Ochoa as well as others excluded altogether? interrogate the politics of immigration from an There is a preference for abandon, abortion marches, parliamentary lobbying imposed symbolic normality affect to critically engage military diversification or Also concerning is the willingness of anti­racist and anti­capitalist perspective. In laughter, rashness and non­cooperation, against legislative proposals on everyone who relates to the change. The the passage of the DREAM Act given its many progressives to support the DREAM the process, the military may end up getting for busting our asses before screwing, reproductive and sexual health, training of response to the aggressive and intolerant military provisions have gotten less air time Act despite it possibly being tied up to a easier access to immigrant youth who may tickling and disarming. We resist and pro­life activists by their US counterparts discourse of the right is a preferably or attention among liberal and progressives defense­authorization bill and having support have difficulty going to college. refuse to be hero or heroine, unless it and anti­LGTBI protests all formed a part intolerant and aggressive discourse from actively pushing for both measures. In terms from a diverse group of people united by a As the passage from Dragon ladies comes in a syringe.” of the range of efforts to return to the past the left. Faced with the patriotism and of repealing DADT, it is unfortunately not commitment to military recruitment. While shows, some take into account the that were carried out by the machismo of the right, the left presents surprising that the rejection of military some support is due to a righteous critique of complexity of identities and political realities In the middle of the cold season in our fundamentalist right. itself as more patriotic and masculine. In inclusion by LGBT folks has gotten minimal white supremacy that shapes pathways to as well as maintain oppositional stances post­coup Paraguay, the hot political In order to compensate for this, the the gay world this gives rise to some attention from professional progressives, citizenship, some (also) support the DREAM against those apparatuses that are largely climate has created blasts of heat that executive power established a strong complex scenes which play out: one can some of whom are straight. Too many Act because it serves as a form of responsible for the limited choices far too have pushed many people out of the militarist agenda which strengthened the be a 'whore', but from the logic of a straight people who profess to be LGBT allies “reparations” for foreign policies and many people have. Many of us are looking closet. If the concept of 'coming out of the right, both around the middle and at the resistance embodied in hetero tend to align themselves with the liberal colonialism toward third world or developing for ways to mediate the very real closet' speaks of truths, power and feet: police and military training at the masculinity. professional wings of LGBT politics given countries once called home to many of the vulnerabilities and lack of job security, as well relationships, and at the same time hands of the armies, US and Colombian They come out of the closet, these shared bourgeois notions of “respectable” immigrant youth or their families targeted by as forms of social rejection that causes the speaks of impostures, cover­ups, and counterinsurgency, long­term military inner fascists, these micro­fascists, the (i.e., not offensive to straight people) gay the legislation That is, the famous quote stress, fear, and physical consequences disguises – how one presents oneself operations in the north of the country, anti­ neighbourhood fascists who corroborate politics that also promote a middle­class “We’re here because you were there” seems experienced before and especially during this within the dynamics of social networks kidnapping and anti­guerrilla hysteria with the great fascism that the new notion of democracy—and supports the to be the underlying mantra of some pushing recession. And given the recent upsurge in and constructs – then the term 'to come promoted by the Ministry of the Interior government embarrassingly shows as an Democratic Party. Additionally, it’s more time for the act’s passage. Yet if “being there” explicit gestures of white supremacy and out of the closet' should be applicable to and amplified by the (invasive) mass image under construction. For the efficient to find out what professional LGBT involved the U.S. military, it is unclear how a white nationalism as demonstrated by the non­queer contexts, thus queering them. communications media, which is also in national holidays of the 15th of August, for organizations think since they are more likely resolution to this issue, ethically or growing strength of the Tea Party, it may be Our Paraguayan society, hierarchical the hands of the right. Unjust example, a 'patriotic' parade for a free, to have resources to make it easier to learn pragmatically, calls for immigrant youth to the most expedient to play up on the shared and hierarchy­making, dominated and imprisonment of peasants, criminalisation sovereign and independent Paraguay has their agendas without as much effort as serve for the same U.S. military that support of the U.S. military among a broad domineering, stigmatised and of social movements, fear, torture, terror, been announced, with students and their learning from those who politically labor in devastated, disrupted, undermined, and still spectrum of people in order to secure, at stigmatising, is like all others in that it abuse and corruption become entrenched teachers and professors required to the margins of the margins given their critical controls many of the policies and everyday least on paper, some basic rights to which aims for final perfection, obliging itself to in the north of Paraguay at the hands of attend. The concept of 'sovereign' is a key stances toward the political mainstream. Yet life of the immigrants’ homelands. straight and/or white people have gotten keep the erratic and erroneous, the the police and armed forces. In the rest of word in the semantic dispute which the given the tendency for many professional Partially to blame for the uncritical access. But progressives who support the diverted, the imperfect, the abnormal and the country, the leftist participation in right continues to win. The concept hides progressives to be on the internet and social support of the DREAM Act are different repeal of DADT and passage of the DREAM abject in the darkness of the closet, government allows for the amicable xenophobia, militarism, machismo, warrior media sites, it is a bit telling that many have factions of the immigrant rights movement, Act might instead consider other political partially by force, and partially by choice. demobilisation of social movements. heroism and reference to Paraguayan supported DADT without addressing the as well as funders and some progressive possibilities explored by some of those who The things that are hidden are those that Over the course of the last year, 'martyrdom'. The right has imposed it on critical stances of some LGBT folks against media, that have pushed for an uncritical are the subjects of such policy debates; irreparably deviate from normality, from fundamental aspects of this situation the left, who have created a variation of the military state that are easily available on embrace of the immigrant rights movement these folks, some of whom are desperately in the forced consensus on what is tolerably changed: some social movements, both the concept in order to define what a a the internet. This noticeable lack of among progressives. It is difficult to raise need of protection, job security, and safety, acceptable to everyone. This normality is old and new, recovered their voice and good sovereignty would be, one that engagement raises some questions: Why is it critical views of the (diverse) immigrant rights encourage us to resist the urge for quick statistical, suggestive and symbolic. action and went out into the streets to doesn't hide those terms. that the straight progressives are more willing movement, even when making it clear that resolutions that ultimately serve to stabilize Normality is established by coming to mobilise, without waiting for the The fascists and fascisms come out of to have gays and lesbians serve in the U.S. one rejects the white supremacy and white the military state and instead explore more consensus on a symbolic 'just equilibrium' government to negotiate with them a the closet, the abusers and the abuses military (or get married) than, let’s say, nationalism of the right wing (as well as humane options—for those targeted by which is the ideal for every historic, solution to their problems. The Ministry of come out of the closet, arrogance, DADT and the DREAM Act as well as the political, social and generic context. A set the Interior was given to a progressive discrimination and persecution prevail. rest of the world. of influences allows it, based on this ideal minister with a certain afinity for human The context of the coup allows and just equilibrium, to expand the borders of rights. From there, the hard right justifies this macho and fascist Tamara K. Nopper inclusive normality. So the symbolic promoted a radical return to the former emergence from the closet. 19 September 2010 negotiations allow, sometimes, for the landscape. The massacre of Curuguaty inclusion of what was excluded at other came to provide a path: first Lugo put Pelao Carvallo Thanks to Bruce A. Dixon’s commentary on times. forward a rightist and recalcitrant anti­ in resistance the DREAM Act in Black Agenda Report The arrival of Fernando Lugo to leftist as Minister of the Interior, providing Asunción del Paraguay (BAR), which gave a link to the 2009 DOD executive power in Paraguay allowed for a sort of self­coup, and then to close the 17/07/2012 Report, to which a reference was inserted in the renegotiation of the borders and even circle, the parliament removed the this article after Dixon’s appeared in the the symbolic just equilibrium of president from office, installing the pro­life This work would not have been possible inclusion in the institution of marriage, September 22, 2010 edition of BAR. Paraguayan normality. A sort of LGTBI and anti­LGBTI Vicepresident in charge of without the work of Against Equality, an the US military, and the prison industrial scene achieved not only visibility, but also the executive. online archive, publishing, and arts complex via hate crimes legislation. Taken from Tamara K. Nopper's blog at came to be a political 'object of desire' for This landscape of barely disguised collective focused on critiquing http://bandung1955.wordpress.com/2010/09/ the political parties, especially those on coups, of the forced solution of political mainstream gay and lesbian politics. As Against Equality want to reinvigorate the 19/1156/ the left. This heterocentric and family­ problems, restructuring of the country's queer thinkers, writers and artists, queer political imagination with fantastic centric normality centres around the ideas political framework towards the right, has Against Equality is committed to possibility! of 'tolerance' and 'acceptance'. The allowed the just equilibrium of dislodging the centrality of equality borders expanded to the left and below, normalisation and the borders of inclusion rhetoric and challenging the demand for http://againstequality.org more or less to the height of the genitals – to be modified...towards the right. In the 6 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 Queer and antimilitarism because I have papers, right? I’d like to think breaking bread with and seriously white­run progressive media and progressive that it’s because my political principles will considering the political views of LGBT folks institutions, such as some labor unions) not allow me to do so, regardless of my who take radical political stances against the without experiencing some backlash from Out of the Closet citizenship status or personal benefit at military state (as well as engage in non­ other progressives, particularly people of stake. Strong movements that achieve middle­class aesthetics)? And why do many color. In turn, critical questions about how “In the time of a parliamentary coup as long as the left wasn't too scandalous weeks after the coup we have seen how greater victories are those that stand in straight progressives fight for LGBT folks to immigrant rights movements may support, d'etat, the machos bloom, everything about it. Those same borders shrunk the rightists have come out of the closet. solidarity with all oppressed people of the openly serve in the military—one of the most rather than undermine U.S. hegemony or becomes heroic and manly. Among the above and on the right: the church could The parliamentary coup d'etat of 22 world and never gain access to rights at the dangerous employment sites that requires its white supremacy, have been taken off the abusers and the abused, nobody wants to give its opinions in order to try to gain June 2012 and its consequences have expense of other oppressed groups. laborers to kill and control others, including table at most progressive gatherings, large be history's pansy. We are all men influence over the executive branch once allowed for a movement of the symbolic I have come to a deeply painful decision: non­whites and/or LGBTs, in the name of and small. Subsequently, while some may according to that which is imposed as the again. social normality and what it permits. The I can no longer in good political conscience empire—but rarely discuss how working­ express concern about the DREAM Act being official dispute. Many flags, many Taking this normality back to the result has been the appearance of support the DREAM Act because the class, poor, and/or of color LGBTs are treated part of a defense­authorization bill, there are anthems, much shouting, many orders, previous situation, with a 'just equilibrium' discourses that are xenophobic, essence of a beautiful dream has been and politically organize for opportunities in probably fewer who will openly take stands everything very militant. Luckily the that is more reactionary and conservative, homophobic, transphobic and detained by a colonial nightmare seeking to the civilian sector job market where they are against the bill given the threat of being resistance is odd and so there is formed a part of the public agenda for lesbiphobic...the whole range and across fund and fuel the U.S. empire machine. also expected to remain closeted, subject to labeled xenophobic by some progressives resistance to such orthodox masculinity Christian fundamentalist organisations, the entire spectrum of political discussion, Unfortunately, the willingness of folks like homophobic harassment and surveillance, or unwilling to reject the U.S. military state or and militarism, from the right to the left. especially the Catholics. Pro­life and anti­ demonstrating how the changes in the Lucas and Al­qaraz Ochoa as well as others excluded altogether? interrogate the politics of immigration from an There is a preference for abandon, abortion marches, parliamentary lobbying imposed symbolic normality affect to critically engage military diversification or Also concerning is the willingness of anti­racist and anti­capitalist perspective. In laughter, rashness and non­cooperation, against legislative proposals on everyone who relates to the change. The the passage of the DREAM Act given its many progressives to support the DREAM the process, the military may end up getting for busting our asses before screwing, reproductive and sexual health, training of response to the aggressive and intolerant military provisions have gotten less air time Act despite it possibly being tied up to a easier access to immigrant youth who may tickling and disarming. We resist and pro­life activists by their US counterparts discourse of the right is a preferably or attention among liberal and progressives defense­authorization bill and having support have difficulty going to college. refuse to be hero or heroine, unless it and anti­LGTBI protests all formed a part intolerant and aggressive discourse from actively pushing for both measures. In terms from a diverse group of people united by a As the passage from Dragon ladies comes in a syringe.” of the range of efforts to return to the past the left. Faced with the patriotism and of repealing DADT, it is unfortunately not commitment to military recruitment. While shows, some take into account the that were carried out by the machismo of the right, the left presents surprising that the rejection of military some support is due to a righteous critique of complexity of identities and political realities In the middle of the cold season in our fundamentalist right. itself as more patriotic and masculine. In inclusion by LGBT folks has gotten minimal white supremacy that shapes pathways to as well as maintain oppositional stances post­coup Paraguay, the hot political In order to compensate for this, the the gay world this gives rise to some attention from professional progressives, citizenship, some (also) support the DREAM against those apparatuses that are largely climate has created blasts of heat that executive power established a strong complex scenes which play out: one can some of whom are straight. Too many Act because it serves as a form of responsible for the limited choices far too have pushed many people out of the militarist agenda which strengthened the be a 'whore', but from the logic of a straight people who profess to be LGBT allies “reparations” for foreign policies and many people have. Many of us are looking closet. If the concept of 'coming out of the right, both around the middle and at the resistance embodied in hetero tend to align themselves with the liberal colonialism toward third world or developing for ways to mediate the very real closet' speaks of truths, power and feet: police and military training at the masculinity. professional wings of LGBT politics given countries once called home to many of the vulnerabilities and lack of job security, as well relationships, and at the same time hands of the armies, US and Colombian They come out of the closet, these shared bourgeois notions of “respectable” immigrant youth or their families targeted by as forms of social rejection that causes the speaks of impostures, cover­ups, and counterinsurgency, long­term military inner fascists, these micro­fascists, the (i.e., not offensive to straight people) gay the legislation That is, the famous quote stress, fear, and physical consequences disguises – how one presents oneself operations in the north of the country, anti­ neighbourhood fascists who corroborate politics that also promote a middle­class “We’re here because you were there” seems experienced before and especially during this within the dynamics of social networks kidnapping and anti­guerrilla hysteria with the great fascism that the new notion of democracy—and supports the to be the underlying mantra of some pushing recession. And given the recent upsurge in and constructs – then the term 'to come promoted by the Ministry of the Interior government embarrassingly shows as an Democratic Party. Additionally, it’s more time for the act’s passage. Yet if “being there” explicit gestures of white supremacy and out of the closet' should be applicable to and amplified by the (invasive) mass image under construction. For the efficient to find out what professional LGBT involved the U.S. military, it is unclear how a white nationalism as demonstrated by the non­queer contexts, thus queering them. communications media, which is also in national holidays of the 15th of August, for organizations think since they are more likely resolution to this issue, ethically or growing strength of the Tea Party, it may be Our Paraguayan society, hierarchical the hands of the right. Unjust example, a 'patriotic' parade for a free, to have resources to make it easier to learn pragmatically, calls for immigrant youth to the most expedient to play up on the shared and hierarchy­making, dominated and imprisonment of peasants, criminalisation sovereign and independent Paraguay has their agendas without as much effort as serve for the same U.S. military that support of the U.S. military among a broad domineering, stigmatised and of social movements, fear, torture, terror, been announced, with students and their learning from those who politically labor in devastated, disrupted, undermined, and still spectrum of people in order to secure, at stigmatising, is like all others in that it abuse and corruption become entrenched teachers and professors required to the margins of the margins given their critical controls many of the policies and everyday least on paper, some basic rights to which aims for final perfection, obliging itself to in the north of Paraguay at the hands of attend. The concept of 'sovereign' is a key stances toward the political mainstream. Yet life of the immigrants’ homelands. straight and/or white people have gotten keep the erratic and erroneous, the the police and armed forces. In the rest of word in the semantic dispute which the given the tendency for many professional Partially to blame for the uncritical access. But progressives who support the diverted, the imperfect, the abnormal and the country, the leftist participation in right continues to win. The concept hides progressives to be on the internet and social support of the DREAM Act are different repeal of DADT and passage of the DREAM abject in the darkness of the closet, government allows for the amicable xenophobia, militarism, machismo, warrior media sites, it is a bit telling that many have factions of the immigrant rights movement, Act might instead consider other political partially by force, and partially by choice. demobilisation of social movements. heroism and reference to Paraguayan supported DADT without addressing the as well as funders and some progressive possibilities explored by some of those who The things that are hidden are those that Over the course of the last year, 'martyrdom'. The right has imposed it on critical stances of some LGBT folks against media, that have pushed for an uncritical are the subjects of such policy debates; irreparably deviate from normality, from fundamental aspects of this situation the left, who have created a variation of the military state that are easily available on embrace of the immigrant rights movement these folks, some of whom are desperately in the forced consensus on what is tolerably changed: some social movements, both the concept in order to define what a a the internet. This noticeable lack of among progressives. It is difficult to raise need of protection, job security, and safety, acceptable to everyone. This normality is old and new, recovered their voice and good sovereignty would be, one that engagement raises some questions: Why is it critical views of the (diverse) immigrant rights encourage us to resist the urge for quick statistical, suggestive and symbolic. action and went out into the streets to doesn't hide those terms. that the straight progressives are more willing movement, even when making it clear that resolutions that ultimately serve to stabilize Normality is established by coming to mobilise, without waiting for the The fascists and fascisms come out of to have gays and lesbians serve in the U.S. one rejects the white supremacy and white the military state and instead explore more consensus on a symbolic 'just equilibrium' government to negotiate with them a the closet, the abusers and the abuses military (or get married) than, let’s say, nationalism of the right wing (as well as humane options—for those targeted by which is the ideal for every historic, solution to their problems. The Ministry of come out of the closet, arrogance, DADT and the DREAM Act as well as the political, social and generic context. A set the Interior was given to a progressive discrimination and persecution prevail. rest of the world. of influences allows it, based on this ideal minister with a certain afinity for human The context of the coup allows and just equilibrium, to expand the borders of rights. From there, the hard right justifies this macho and fascist Tamara K. Nopper inclusive normality. So the symbolic promoted a radical return to the former emergence from the closet. 19 September 2010 negotiations allow, sometimes, for the landscape. The massacre of Curuguaty inclusion of what was excluded at other came to provide a path: first Lugo put Pelao Carvallo Thanks to Bruce A. Dixon’s commentary on times. forward a rightist and recalcitrant anti­ in resistance the DREAM Act in Black Agenda Report The arrival of Fernando Lugo to leftist as Minister of the Interior, providing Asunción del Paraguay (BAR), which gave a link to the 2009 DOD executive power in Paraguay allowed for a sort of self­coup, and then to close the 17/07/2012 Report, to which a reference was inserted in the renegotiation of the borders and even circle, the parliament removed the this article after Dixon’s appeared in the the symbolic just equilibrium of president from office, installing the pro­life September 22, 2010 edition of BAR. Paraguayan normality. A sort of LGTBI and anti­LGBTI Vicepresident in charge of scene achieved not only visibility, but also the executive. Taken from Tamara K. Nopper's blog at came to be a political 'object of desire' for This landscape of barely disguised http://bandung1955.wordpress.com/2010/09/ the political parties, especially those on coups, of the forced solution of political 19/1156/ the left. This heterocentric and family­ problems, restructuring of the country's centric normality centres around the ideas political framework towards the right, has of 'tolerance' and 'acceptance'. The allowed the just equilibrium of borders expanded to the left and below, normalisation and the borders of inclusion more or less to the height of the genitals – to be modified...towards the right. In the The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 7 Queer and antimilitarism South Korea, a Difficult Place for Queers and Unnatural Sexual Relation or Psycho­Sexual Conscientious Objectors Deficiency: IsAThird Way Impossible? Within Turkish society, which is This ideology, and its spearheading supervise. It is against immorality, but it South Korea is a conservative country dominated by a spiral of 'masculinity' and institution, the army, where this ideology is perceives women completely as a sexual with strong patriarchal and 'military service', sexism and homophobia engendered, perceives homosexuality commodity, it never refrains from sexual heteronormative traditions, where queers are ever present. Militarist institutions solely as 'faggotry', humiliating the gay harassment and rape. The army does not and conscientious objectors have difficulty humiliate and label homosexuals, they individual by treating him not as a human allow a military officer to cohabit with a fitting in. Especially because the South treat them carelessly and make their life being and assaulting his soul and woman whom it does not find appropriate, Korea military maintains a conscription miserable, especially when it comes to the character. It insults him, it makes him but it is not a problem for the institution system, the military strongly influences 'military service'. Firstly, the army as an worthless. when it calls this woman for 'striptease' the way in which Korean men's gender institution has been presented as a gift The army, as an institution where parties for soldiers. It is claimed that today identity is shaped. “Masculinity” is that remains out of reach if one is gay. authority is made almost absolute, is there are no female soldiers who are something that I don't have, but in the The fact that the institution called 'the always a threat, not only to the insiders raped or sexually harassed in the US conservative South Korean society people army', known as the fortress of but also the individuals who remain army. But all armies do this because all find it odd and make queers like me feel 'masculinity' and of institutional militarism, outside. This threat is not restricted to armies are 'male'. ashamed and embarrassed ­ which often excludes women and homosexuals does what has been experienced in wars. In In Turkey, military psychiatry provides leads us to blame ourselves for not being not mean of course that they are unable fact, everything the army opposes a basis for the ideological approach of able to satisfy society's criteria of to serve in the army or to fight. The fact becomes institutionalized. The military normality. It's a kind of “false that women and gays are being excluded opposes only what has been done without consciousnes”. Besides the harsh is a result of the ideology of masculinity. its permission, what it cannot detect and treatment of sexual minorities in the Korean military, the attacks on and social stigma attached to conscientious objectors who refuse to go into the army are quite serious. Queers remain Facing discrimination within our struggle conflicted with the military whether they This morning I read an article entitled conservative; they were asking me not to violent toward other minority groups, while accept it or not. "Queer young South Koreans getting on smoke in a public space because I am a they lament how they are disadvantaged the march" published in the Hankyoreh, a woman: they also talked down to me for being a minority? Family Trouble conservative Korean families that discourses which are opposed to the consider their children's homosexuality current military system. They tend to turn daily newspaper in South Korea. The without considering it might be offending. I remember one of the villagers telling In South Korea, refusing military article was about a Korean high school In the end my concerns came true, and it me to go smoke somewhere else when conscription puts you in jail for one­and­a­ somewhat akin to crimes. violent and produce hate messages when they run into news reports about someone lesbian couple who has been together for got me thinking about various things. my friend and I were smoking on the half years, and you get to face social almost 100 days (an important milestone I went to the Gangjeong village to street. He said that there are too many prejudices and exclusion. The military in Militarism, nationalism, gender evading or refusing military service. It could be said that many Korean men in a South Korean relationship). The support people there. The government eyes watching, especially the press and South Korea is considered natural, like reporter wrote about how they loved each was trying to repress, dismantle and take the people who support building of the the air or water, so questioning or live with two kinds of national trauma, Still hoping for a better future namely the colonial experience which hurt Even now, there are many people who other but faced difficulties and away the community that villagers worked naval base. objecting to the military is virtually discrimination as a sexual minority. As so hard to build. The government The village's definitions of community, forbidden. Hence conscientious objectors their pride, and the sense of deprivation feel ill at ease with their own gender and due to their military service. That is to say, sexuality. There are also people who are usual, some people on the internet unilaterally decided that building the family and gender are so narrow. There is have a hard time receiving support from responded to the article with hateful and Gangjeong naval base is a must for almost a paranoia that their village must their families. Queers also face a similar nationalism and gender are in a way the in prison to uphold their conscience. If points where the contradictions and Korean society does not want to appear a unreasonable comments. I am very much national policy without giving any further be harmonious and beautiful, their family situation, since coming out of the closet is used to such hatred but I was still hurt. explanation or trying to have a be “normal” and the mainstram roles of still not well received in most of the problems within Korean society are most brutal society, such violence must clearly seen. South Korea is a country disappear. Although things are still quite This was especially so because of what I conversation with the villagers. Many gender be maintained. with very strong nationalism, rough in Korea, a number of civil rights have been through in Gangjeong village activists, for a variety of reasons, came to The village is facing harsh discrimi­ heterosexuality, male chauvinism, and organisations, including gay or queer on Jeju island, where the villagers the village, fought the injustice, nation and criticism right now. Like some militarism. People also think that men rights organisations, continue to fight supported by activists from all over South encouraged each other, and had a lot of sexual minorities struggling especially become real men only after they finish against injustice in South Korea. In Korea resist the construction of a new fun. The time we spent together gave me hard to survive and succeed in the military service. This vicious circle of particular, World Without War has naval base in their village (see The a great comfort, but at the same time, the similarly harsh world, I see some villagers militarism and masculinity functions as continued to support and organise Broken Rifle No 91, April 2012). place was filled with violence. Some doing the same; they are ostracising a device to oppress social minorities legislative movements for conscientious Recently I heard that my being a villagers said that they oppose to the others who are not considered to be in the and many other marginal social objectors for more than ten years. While lesbian was a hotly debated issue at a building of a naval base there because it range of “normality”. There is a collective discourses. Korean men who have there still remain many hurdles for us Ganjeong village joint meeting between will create a red light district. At the fear towards watchful eyes checking that finished their military service often living in Korea, we are at the same time major activists and villagers. It was moment of confrontation, they asked everything is normal. There is an ironic project their sense of deprivation onto fortunate to have many comrades and because someone in the village saw my female activists to be at the front line, phenomenon of one minority group trying less powerful groups and social friends who are with us. Despite the girlfriend and I secretly smooching when I saying that "it looks nice with all the girls to repress others to escape the stigma of minorities ­ such as women, queers, conservative atmosphere in our society, was at Jeju City Hall. (I was there to stage at the front". The village was a place being a minority. and conscientious objectors. queers and conscientious objectors in a protest as part of a Gangjeong village's where there was no respects toward When I look back at what happened Also, it is hard to find a place where Korea continue to fight by allying with one attempt to raise awareness in other parts sexual minorities, sex workers, feminists, there, I also ask myself the same the discrepancy between rich and poor another. of the island.) The villager thought that my environmentalist and activists of various question. Did I commit any violence to is greater than South Korea. The behaviour was something unthinkable, issues who had gathered there to support others in order to hide the fact that I am a military is a place that conceals and Yu Min­Seok, Conscientious Objector and told other activists about it. I learned the village. minority? blocks class inequality and wealth e­mail: [email protected] that not from the villagers or the activists The village itself is a minority. When This is not only a problem of discrepancy. While the majority of who were at the meeting, but from my there is a news release about the village, Gangjeong village, but an unresolved one Korean men live lives unequal to the Yu Min­Seok is a conscientious friend who heard it from someone else at people criticise the fact that villagers and that we all have to address together. small wealthy class, because they objector and a member of World Without the meeting. I do not even know how "outsiders" are threatening national Tomato, South Korea consider the military a place where War. many times I was outed before the news security and are just making a scene. every man must serve equally, the reached me. Some people even mock them saying that Tomato is an activist at Solidarity for military functions as a device to hide Since I first arrived there, I was they are "followers of North Korea", or that LGBT Human Rights of Korea. She is also such inequality. Naturally, Korean men worried that my sexual preference would they are greedy for compensation. The active in the struggle against the naval show sensitive reactions to alternative be problematic for some villagers. It was villagers are not so different from me: a base on Jeju island. because I found the village very minority. Then, why are they being so 8 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 Queer and antimilitarism South Korea, a Difficult Place for Queers and Unnatural Sexual Relation or Psycho­Sexual Conscientious Objectors Deficiency: IsAThird Way Impossible? Within Turkish society, which is This ideology, and its spearheading supervise. It is against immorality, but it South Korea is a conservative country dominated by a spiral of 'masculinity' and institution, the army, where this ideology is perceives women completely as a sexual with strong patriarchal and 'military service', sexism and homophobia engendered, perceives homosexuality commodity, it never refrains from sexual heteronormative traditions, where queers are ever present. Militarist institutions solely as 'faggotry', humiliating the gay harassment and rape. The army does not and conscientious objectors have difficulty humiliate and label homosexuals, they individual by treating him not as a human allow a military officer to cohabit with a fitting in. Especially because the South treat them carelessly and make their life being and assaulting his soul and woman whom it does not find appropriate, Korea military maintains a conscription miserable, especially when it comes to the character. It insults him, it makes him but it is not a problem for the institution system, the military strongly influences 'military service'. Firstly, the army as an worthless. when it calls this woman for 'striptease' the way in which Korean men's gender institution has been presented as a gift The army, as an institution where parties for soldiers. It is claimed that today identity is shaped. “Masculinity” is that remains out of reach if one is gay. authority is made almost absolute, is there are no female soldiers who are something that I don't have, but in the The fact that the institution called 'the always a threat, not only to the insiders raped or sexually harassed in the US conservative South Korean society people army', known as the fortress of but also the individuals who remain army. But all armies do this because all find it odd and make queers like me feel 'masculinity' and of institutional militarism, outside. This threat is not restricted to armies are 'male'. ashamed and embarrassed ­ which often excludes women and homosexuals does what has been experienced in wars. In In Turkey, military psychiatry provides leads us to blame ourselves for not being not mean of course that they are unable fact, everything the army opposes a basis for the ideological approach of able to satisfy society's criteria of to serve in the army or to fight. The fact becomes institutionalized. The military normality. It's a kind of “false that women and gays are being excluded opposes only what has been done without consciousnes”. Besides the harsh is a result of the ideology of masculinity. its permission, what it cannot detect and Continued on page 10 treatment of sexual minorities in the Korean military, the attacks on and social stigma attached to conscientious objectors who refuse to go into the army are quite serious. Queers remain Facing discrimination within our struggle conflicted with the military whether they This morning I read an article entitled conservative; they were asking me not to violent toward other minority groups, while accept it or not. "Queer young South Koreans getting on smoke in a public space because I am a they lament how they are disadvantaged the march" published in the Hankyoreh, a woman: they also talked down to me for being a minority? Family Trouble conservative Korean families that discourses which are opposed to the consider their children's homosexuality current military system. They tend to turn daily newspaper in South Korea. The without considering it might be offending. I remember one of the villagers telling In South Korea, refusing military article was about a Korean high school In the end my concerns came true, and it me to go smoke somewhere else when conscription puts you in jail for one­and­a­ somewhat akin to crimes. violent and produce hate messages when they run into news reports about someone lesbian couple who has been together for got me thinking about various things. my friend and I were smoking on the half years, and you get to face social almost 100 days (an important milestone I went to the Gangjeong village to street. He said that there are too many prejudices and exclusion. The military in Militarism, nationalism, gender evading or refusing military service. It could be said that many Korean men in a South Korean relationship). The support people there. The government eyes watching, especially the press and South Korea is considered natural, like reporter wrote about how they loved each was trying to repress, dismantle and take the people who support building of the the air or water, so questioning or live with two kinds of national trauma, Still hoping for a better future namely the colonial experience which hurt Even now, there are many people who other but faced difficulties and away the community that villagers worked naval base. objecting to the military is virtually discrimination as a sexual minority. As so hard to build. The government The village's definitions of community, forbidden. Hence conscientious objectors their pride, and the sense of deprivation feel ill at ease with their own gender and due to their military service. That is to say, sexuality. There are also people who are usual, some people on the internet unilaterally decided that building the family and gender are so narrow. There is have a hard time receiving support from responded to the article with hateful and Gangjeong naval base is a must for almost a paranoia that their village must their families. Queers also face a similar nationalism and gender are in a way the in prison to uphold their conscience. If points where the contradictions and Korean society does not want to appear a unreasonable comments. I am very much national policy without giving any further be harmonious and beautiful, their family situation, since coming out of the closet is used to such hatred but I was still hurt. explanation or trying to have a be “normal” and the mainstram roles of still not well received in most of the problems within Korean society are most brutal society, such violence must clearly seen. South Korea is a country disappear. Although things are still quite This was especially so because of what I conversation with the villagers. Many gender be maintained. with very strong nationalism, rough in Korea, a number of civil rights have been through in Gangjeong village activists, for a variety of reasons, came to The village is facing harsh discrimi­ heterosexuality, male chauvinism, and organisations, including gay or queer on Jeju island, where the villagers the village, fought the injustice, nation and criticism right now. Like some militarism. People also think that men rights organisations, continue to fight supported by activists from all over South encouraged each other, and had a lot of sexual minorities struggling especially become real men only after they finish against injustice in South Korea. In Korea resist the construction of a new fun. The time we spent together gave me hard to survive and succeed in the military service. This vicious circle of particular, World Without War has naval base in their village (see The a great comfort, but at the same time, the similarly harsh world, I see some villagers militarism and masculinity functions as continued to support and organise Broken Rifle No 91, April 2012). place was filled with violence. Some doing the same; they are ostracising a device to oppress social minorities legislative movements for conscientious Recently I heard that my being a villagers said that they oppose to the others who are not considered to be in the and many other marginal social objectors for more than ten years. While lesbian was a hotly debated issue at a building of a naval base there because it range of “normality”. There is a collective discourses. Korean men who have there still remain many hurdles for us Ganjeong village joint meeting between will create a red light district. At the fear towards watchful eyes checking that finished their military service often living in Korea, we are at the same time major activists and villagers. It was moment of confrontation, they asked everything is normal. There is an ironic project their sense of deprivation onto fortunate to have many comrades and because someone in the village saw my female activists to be at the front line, phenomenon of one minority group trying less powerful groups and social friends who are with us. Despite the girlfriend and I secretly smooching when I saying that "it looks nice with all the girls to repress others to escape the stigma of minorities ­ such as women, queers, conservative atmosphere in our society, was at Jeju City Hall. (I was there to stage at the front". The village was a place being a minority. and conscientious objectors. queers and conscientious objectors in a protest as part of a Gangjeong village's where there was no respects toward When I look back at what happened Also, it is hard to find a place where Korea continue to fight by allying with one attempt to raise awareness in other parts sexual minorities, sex workers, feminists, there, I also ask myself the same the discrepancy between rich and poor another. of the island.) The villager thought that my environmentalist and activists of various question. Did I commit any violence to is greater than South Korea. The behaviour was something unthinkable, issues who had gathered there to support others in order to hide the fact that I am a military is a place that conceals and Yu Min­Seok, Conscientious Objector and told other activists about it. I learned the village. minority? blocks class inequality and wealth e­mail: [email protected] that not from the villagers or the activists The village itself is a minority. When This is not only a problem of discrepancy. While the majority of who were at the meeting, but from my there is a news release about the village, Gangjeong village, but an unresolved one Korean men live lives unequal to the Yu Min­Seok is a conscientious friend who heard it from someone else at people criticise the fact that villagers and that we all have to address together. small wealthy class, because they objector and a member of World Without the meeting. I do not even know how "outsiders" are threatening national Tomato, South Korea consider the military a place where War. many times I was outed before the news security and are just making a scene. every man must serve equally, the reached me. Some people even mock them saying that Tomato is an activist at Solidarity for military functions as a device to hide Since I first arrived there, I was they are "followers of North Korea", or that LGBT Human Rights of Korea. She is also such inequality. Naturally, Korean men worried that my sexual preference would they are greedy for compensation. The active in the struggle against the naval show sensitive reactions to alternative be problematic for some villagers. It was villagers are not so different from me: a base on Jeju island. because I found the village very minority. Then, why are they being so The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 9 Queer and antimilitarism

Continued from page 9 labels gay privates through medical to think about it in new ways. aspect of the necessity of decisions being Ali Erol, is an activist for LGBT rights from reports. Gays, labelled with “psycho­ Through conscientious and/or total accepted by members and candidate members Turkey. In the early 1990s he started grassroot militarism. Military psychiatry still makes sexual deficiency: homosexuality”, are objection the military may be questioned, of these international bodies … Unfortunately activities for the rights and liberties of LGBT use of DSM II (Diagnostic and Statistical exposed to physical and psychological and one can struggle against every kind the military is one of the areas where gays are individuals. In September 1994 he began to Manual of Mental Disorders) from 1968 of discrimination in working life and the of militarism. Moreover, in the context of most humiliated and oppressed. This situation publish Kaos GL, which is the first Turkish the American Psychiatric Association violation of their rights through this label. demanding equality in every sphere, is no different anywhere else in the world. Even LGBT magazine, together with Ali Özbaş. (APA). So, according to military Turkey is the only army among the NATO some gay and bisexual men may regard Clinton’s “don’t ask don’t tell” did not work. To He is among the founders of the Association psychiatry, homosexuality is a psycho­ countries which defines homosexuality as this situation as a discriminatory practice. ponder upon this subject is indeed a must for Kaos GL, having the same name with the sexual pathology, in opposition to the an illness. On the other hand, professional soldiers the gay struggle. Without ever diluting the issue magazine. In July 2005, Kaos GL officially current literature of psychiatry. Those who According to Article 17 of the army and military officers may regard article and without strangling each other because of became an association under the name of have a psycho­sexual “deficiency” cannot regulations, which defines “obvious 153 (concerning “unnatural” sexual national interests, we should think about this Kaos Gey­Lezbiyen Kültürel Araştırmalar ve be recruited even if they want to be. If it is homosexuals who cannot be recruited”, relations) as discrimination against sexual issue. For many gays are getting hurt… Dayanışma Derneği (Kaos Gay­Lesbian the case that his “deficiency” is revealed homosexuality, as well as transvestism relations within the scope of the law. At Cultural Research and Solidarity Association). after the process of joining up, then there and transexualism, are a “psycho­sexual least these areas may be possible areas “You are a brave and honest person. I believe The regulations of Kaos GL have become a is the same approach. In this stage the deficiency to the highest degree”, a of progress. that you are sincere in what you said. However basis for LGBT organisations which want to law concerning “unnatural sexual relation” psycho­sexual pathology; however, In the medium run, things may be at homosexuality is not a problem for us. We may become recognised associations. is put into practice. Through this law the psychology and psychiatry as sciences do sixes and sevens, since people be homosexuals as well, there is no problem. soldier who has “homosexual relations” is not accept that homosexuality is an illness experience problems or are exposed to Your homosexuality is not obvious; you do not not only discharged, but it is also told in today. Yet military psychiatry uses DSM­II discrimination and are deprived of have feminine behaviours. You do not have to the first place that the relationship is not which uses criteria of psychiatry and constitutional equality. The recognition of say that you are homosexual. Do your military natural! However, in reality the situation psychology from before 1973 and defines conscientious objection may be dealt with service just as a man.” may not always occur as it is prescribed. it as an illness. It is not known when GATA more comprehensively in order to find a “If it suits you, you say “do your military service There are people who are recruited (Gülhane Military Medical Academy) will middle way for gays who do not want to as a man”; if it suits you, you label because they hide their homosexuality, accept (or whether it will ever accept) the undertake military service but at the same homosexuals as perverts and ill. If and others who, even if they are not gay, criteria of DSM IV­TR (the current time do not want to be labelled. homosexuality is not a problem, then why do have sexual relations in the barracks ­ manual), that is, that homosexuality is not If article 153 for military officers, and you dismiss people from the army on the these are facts of life! an illness or a psychosexual problem, that DSM­II of military psychiatry for privates grounds of being homosexual? In fact you are When what happened is revealed, one it is rather a sexual orientation, or whether were to be annulled, what would be the the one who is not honest.” of three approaches is: to overlook, to it will progress the intra­professional new situation? An exemption based upon “Alright, as you wish. You are suitable. See ignore the situation so that the force may regulations of the military in order to get a declaration which is in itself sufficient, your status at the information desk. You may not fall into disgrace; to exile the people rid of this problem from the perspective of equality, and the right to conscientious leave.” involved to different places; and “science” of “scientificity”. It seems that objection? “I am not leaving. You will do what is written in especially, if one defines oneself as the entire problem is entangled in Since there are more choices than law and regulations. Do your obligations.” homosexual, to issue a medical report “masculinity”. Everybody knows that the those between the devil and the deep Decision: D/17 F–4 and to discharge the person concerned. Turkish Armed Forces do not need to blue sea, as it were, we are reaching a http://www.kaosgl.org/node/746 As one may surmise, which one of these count heads, as there are more than stage where no one knows how to handle Ali Erol, Kaos GL, Ankara, Turkey. approaches will be put into practice enough men at conscription age. If in the situation. Formerly, from the [email protected] [email protected] depends on the place and the military Turkey, as the sole NATO country which perspective both of the military and of officers in charge. regards homosexuality as an illness, gays, more precisely of “homosexuals”, Turkey has military conscription. The military psychiatry will persevere to try to things were handled somehow, everybody right of conscientious objection is not regard itself as “scientific”, this approach was rubbing along. The question is how recognised. The response given to must be revised somehow, from the much one sees from one's own angle, but conscientious objectors who do not obey aspect of possible EU membership as it is a fact that in the last 15­20 years How to make a donation to WRI? Payment by credit card forcible recruitment orders is arrests and well. Until now the prevalent approach everything has changed so rapidly in imprisonment on the grounds of civil was to keep it within military logic. Until Turkey. Now will these winds of change ► by standing order which enables us to Please debit my credit card for the amount resistance. TSK (the Turkish Armed now they were not interested in ways of cause devastation or will there be a plan but let us know (see bank details of £/€/US$ ...... (delete currency as appro­ Forces), defining homosexuality as an managing what might ever injure or harm restructuring where everyone will be overleaf) priate) illness, fires gay military officers and “masculinity”; but tomorrow they will have included? Even if it is not as obvious as ► in USA by arranging for regular donations needed yet (it is not at a stage where it is to be sent through your bank's bill pay­ Credit Card Visa/Access/Mastercard/ discussed enough in public yet) two ment service (delete as appropriate) dimensions of the problem come to the ► by giro transfer to War Resisters' Interna­ fore. The military front believes that it may tional, Card number ______continue the game indefinitely thanks to • in Euros to Bank of Ireland, the present legal regulations by making IBAN IE91 BOFI 9000 9240 413547 Expiry date: ___ / ___ difficulties for gays. And gays are BIC/SWIFT BOFIIE2D complaining constantly but cannot decide • in £ sterling to Unity Trust Bank, Security code: _____ to choose which of the three ways forward IBAN GB11 CPBK 0800 5150 07 32 mentioned above should be chosen. 10 Name on card: The problem is obvious from many ► by credit card – complete details in the aspects: According to psychiatry­science next column or use our web facility at ht­ ...... and scientificity, according to civil servants tp://wri­irg.org working in the military, from the ► by cheque, in £, €, or US$, payable to Signature: ...... perspective of professional discrimination "WRI" on the grounds of sexual orientation, ► (UK only) by Charity Aid voucher (CAF), Billing address (if different from overleaf) equality in working life and in working life made out to Lansbury House Trust Fund regarding the situation of military officers, (to request such vouchers, write to: Char­ ...... according to the legality of mortgaging ities Aid Foundation, Kings Hill, West Mail­ one’s remaining life in its entirety due to a ing, Kent ME19 4TA, or visit ...... report given by the military in which the www.CAFonline.org) service refers to a very specific time and ► (USA only) by sending a tax deductable ...... place, from the aspect of what Turkey has donation – make checks payable to the accepted through the international A.J. Muste Institute 93/08/12/en Conscientious objectors demonstrating in Sihhiye Square on 9 November 2001. Photo: agreements with UN and the EU, from the Kaos GL archive. 10 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 Queer and antimilitarism labels gay privates through medical to think about it in new ways. aspect of the necessity of decisions being Ali Erol, is an activist for LGBT rights from WRI Council reports. Gays, labelled with “psycho­ Through conscientious and/or total accepted by members and candidate members Turkey. In the early 1990s he started grassroot militarism. Military psychiatry still makes meeting 2012 sexual deficiency: homosexuality”, are objection the military may be questioned, of these international bodies … Unfortunately activities for the rights and liberties of LGBT 15 Sep 2012 ­ 17 Sep 2012 use of DSM II (Diagnostic and Statistical exposed to physical and psychological and one can struggle against every kind the military is one of the areas where gays are individuals. In September 1994 he began to Manual of Mental Disorders) from 1968 of discrimination in working life and the of militarism. Moreover, in the context of most humiliated and oppressed. This situation publish Kaos GL, which is the first Turkish The War Resisters' the American Psychiatric Association violation of their rights through this label. demanding equality in every sphere, is no different anywhere else in the world. Even LGBT magazine, together with Ali Özbaş. International Council meeting (APA). So, according to military Turkey is the only army among the NATO some gay and bisexual men may regard Clinton’s “don’t ask don’t tell” did not work. To He is among the founders of the Association 2012 will take place from 15­ psychiatry, homosexuality is a psycho­ countries which defines homosexuality as this situation as a discriminatory practice. ponder upon this subject is indeed a must for Kaos GL, having the same name with the 17 September 2012 in sexual pathology, in opposition to the an illness. On the other hand, professional soldiers the gay struggle. Without ever diluting the issue magazine. In July 2005, Kaos GL officially Bilbao, Basque Country, current literature of psychiatry. Those who According to Article 17 of the army and military officers may regard article and without strangling each other because of became an association under the name of state of Spain. have a psycho­sexual “deficiency” cannot regulations, which defines “obvious 153 (concerning “unnatural” sexual national interests, we should think about this Kaos Gey­Lezbiyen Kültürel Araştırmalar ve be recruited even if they want to be. If it is homosexuals who cannot be recruited”, relations) as discrimination against sexual issue. For many gays are getting hurt… Dayanışma Derneği (Kaos Gay­Lesbian As the Council meeting will the case that his “deficiency” is revealed homosexuality, as well as transvestism relations within the scope of the law. At Cultural Research and Solidarity Association). begin on 15 September in after the process of joining up, then there and transexualism, are a “psycho­sexual least these areas may be possible areas “You are a brave and honest person. I believe The regulations of Kaos GL have become a the morning, you should plan is the same approach. In this stage the deficiency to the highest degree”, a of progress. that you are sincere in what you said. However basis for LGBT organisations which want to your travel to arrive on 14 law concerning “unnatural sexual relation” psycho­sexual pathology; however, In the medium run, things may be at homosexuality is not a problem for us. We may become recognised associations. September in the is put into practice. Through this law the psychology and psychiatry as sciences do sixes and sevens, since people be homosexuals as well, there is no problem. afternoon/evening. soldier who has “homosexual relations” is not accept that homosexuality is an illness experience problems or are exposed to Your homosexuality is not obvious; you do not not only discharged, but it is also told in today. Yet military psychiatry uses DSM­II discrimination and are deprived of have feminine behaviours. You do not have to As a reminder: this Council the first place that the relationship is not which uses criteria of psychiatry and constitutional equality. The recognition of say that you are homosexual. Do your military meeting had to be organised natural! However, in reality the situation psychology from before 1973 and defines conscientious objection may be dealt with service just as a man.” on short notice, without the may not always occur as it is prescribed. it as an illness. It is not known when GATA more comprehensively in order to find a “If it suits you, you say “do your military service chance to also organise a There are people who are recruited (Gülhane Military Medical Academy) will middle way for gays who do not want to as a man”; if it suits you, you label seminar which would have because they hide their homosexuality, accept (or whether it will ever accept) the undertake military service but at the same homosexuals as perverts and ill. If allowed us to do some and others who, even if they are not gay, criteria of DSM IV­TR (the current time do not want to be labelled. homosexuality is not a problem, then why do fundraising. This was have sexual relations in the barracks ­ manual), that is, that homosexuality is not If article 153 for military officers, and you dismiss people from the army on the because Red Juvenil these are facts of life! an illness or a psychosexual problem, that DSM­II of military psychiatry for privates grounds of being homosexual? In fact you are decided to cancel the When what happened is revealed, one it is rather a sexual orientation, or whether were to be annulled, what would be the the one who is not honest.” planned seminar and Council of three approaches is: to overlook, to it will progress the intra­professional new situation? An exemption based upon “Alright, as you wish. You are suitable. See in Medellin in February 2012. ignore the situation so that the force may regulations of the military in order to get a declaration which is in itself sufficient, your status at the information desk. You may not fall into disgrace; to exile the people rid of this problem from the perspective of equality, and the right to conscientious leave.” Nevertheless, we hope for an involved to different places; and “science” of “scientificity”. It seems that objection? “I am not leaving. You will do what is written in exciting Council meeting, especially, if one defines oneself as the entire problem is entangled in Since there are more choices than law and regulations. Do your obligations.” which will be a bit different homosexual, to issue a medical report “masculinity”. Everybody knows that the those between the devil and the deep Decision: D/17 F–4 from our usual Council and to discharge the person concerned. Turkish Armed Forces do not need to blue sea, as it were, we are reaching a http://www.kaosgl.org/node/746 meetings. Some of the As one may surmise, which one of these count heads, as there are more than stage where no one knows how to handle Ali Erol, Kaos GL, Ankara, Turkey. agenda items are: approaches will be put into practice enough men at conscription age. If in the situation. Formerly, from the [email protected] [email protected] "Mom, Dad – I have something terrible to tell you: I'm gay." depends on the place and the military Turkey, as the sole NATO country which perspective both of the military and of ­ A vision for WRI 2022 officers in charge. regards homosexuality as an illness, gays, more precisely of “homosexuals”, (this will take up a big Turkey has military conscription. The military psychiatry will persevere to try to things were handled somehow, everybody chunk of the time) right of conscientious objection is not Donate to War Resisters' International regard itself as “scientific”, this approach was rubbing along. The question is how ­ WRI report 2011­2012 recognised. The response given to must be revised somehow, from the much one sees from one's own angle, but ­ WRI Budget & Finances conscientious objectors who do not obey aspect of possible EU membership as it is a fact that in the last 15­20 years How to make a donation to WRI? Payment by credit card ­ New affiliates (we forcible recruitment orders is arrests and well. Until now the prevalent approach everything has changed so rapidly in received applications imprisonment on the grounds of civil was to keep it within military logic. Until Turkey. Now will these winds of change ► by standing order which enables us to Please debit my credit card for the amount from Amargi in Turkey resistance. TSK (the Turkish Armed now they were not interested in ways of cause devastation or will there be a plan but let us know (see bank details of £/€/US$ ...... (delete currency as appro­ and Centre Delas in Forces), defining homosexuality as an managing what might ever injure or harm restructuring where everyone will be overleaf) priate) Spain) illness, fires gay military officers and “masculinity”; but tomorrow they will have included? Even if it is not as obvious as ► in USA by arranging for regular donations ­ WRI's international needed yet (it is not at a stage where it is to be sent through your bank's bill pay­ Credit Card Visa/Access/Mastercard/ conference in South discussed enough in public yet) two ment service (delete as appropriate) Africa in 2014 dimensions of the problem come to the ► by giro transfer to War Resisters' Interna­ ­ The "parliamentary coup" fore. The military front believes that it may tional, Card number ______in Paraguay continue the game indefinitely thanks to • in Euros to Bank of Ireland, ­ Some discussion on the present legal regulations by making IBAN IE91 BOFI 9000 9240 413547 Expiry date: ___ / ___ WRI's programme work difficulties for gays. And gays are BIC/SWIFT BOFIIE2D complaining constantly but cannot decide • in £ sterling to Unity Trust Bank, Security code: _____ More information: to choose which of the three ways forward IBAN GB11 CPBK 0800 5150 07 32 War Resisters' International mentioned above should be chosen. 10 Name on card: 5 Caledonian Road The problem is obvious from many ► by credit card – complete details in the London N1 9DX aspects: According to psychiatry­science next column or use our web facility at ht­ ...... Email: info@wri­irg.org and scientificity, according to civil servants tp://wri­irg.org http://wri­irg.org working in the military, from the ► by cheque, in £, €, or US$, payable to Signature: ...... perspective of professional discrimination "WRI" on the grounds of sexual orientation, ► (UK only) by Charity Aid voucher (CAF), Billing address (if different from overleaf) equality in working life and in working life made out to Lansbury House Trust Fund regarding the situation of military officers, (to request such vouchers, write to: Char­ ...... according to the legality of mortgaging ities Aid Foundation, Kings Hill, West Mail­ one’s remaining life in its entirety due to a ing, Kent ME19 4TA, or visit ...... report given by the military in which the www.CAFonline.org) service refers to a very specific time and ► (USA only) by sending a tax deductable ...... place, from the aspect of what Turkey has donation – make checks payable to the accepted through the international A.J. Muste Institute 93/08/12/en agreements with UN and the EU, from the

The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012 11 Queer and antimilitarism

New in the WRI webshop War Resisters' International offers a range of merchandise via its webshop. These and many other books can be ordered online — and some are even available for reading online or downloading as PDF. Venezuela: Revolution as Conscientious object­ Social change doesn't Spectacle analyses the ors are generally seen just happen. It's the Chávez regime from an as male — as are sol­ result of the work of antiauthoritarian diers. This book committed people Venezuelan perspective. It breaks with this striving for a world of debunks claims made by assumption. Women justice and peace. This Venezuelan and U.S. conscientiously object work gestates in groups rightists that the Chávez to military service and or cells of activists, in government is dictatorial, militarism. Not only in discussions, in training as well as claims made by countries which con­ sessions, in reflecting on Venezuelan and U.S. script women — such previous experiences, in leftists that the Chávez as Eritrea and Israel — planning, in government is revolutionary. Instead the book but also in countries without conscription of women. experimenting and in learning from others. argues that the Chávez regime is one of a long In doing so, they redefine antimilitarism from a fem­ Preparing ourselves for our work for social justice line of Latin American populist regimes that ­ inist perspective, opposing not only militarism, but is key to its success. "revolutionary" rhetoric aside ­ ultimately have also a form of antimilitarism that creates the male There is no definitive recipe for successful been subservient to the United States as well as conscientious objector as the ‘hero’ of antimilitarist nonviolent actions and campaigns. This to multinational corporations. The book concludes struggle. handbook, however, is a series of resources that by explaining how Venezuela's autonomous This anthology includes contributions by women can inspire and support your own work, especially social, labour, and environmental movements conscientious objectors and activists from Britain, if you adapt the resources to your own needs and have been systematically disempowered by the Colombia, Eritrea, Israel, Paraguay, South Korea, context. Chávez regime, but that despite this they remain Turkey, and the USA, plus documents and state­ This handbook has been a collaborative effort of the basis of a truly democratic, revolutionary ments. people working in nonviolence within the WRI alternative. network from Australia, Belgium, Britain, Published by: War Resisters' International Colombia, Chile, Germany, Italy, Israel, South Rafael Uzcátegui Edited by Ellen Elster and Majken Jul Sørensen Korea, Scandinavia, Spain, Turkey, and the USA. See Sharp Press, 2011 Preface by Cynthia Enloe ISBN: 978­1­884365­77­5 ISBN 978­0­903517­22­5. 152 pages. Published by: War Resisters' International Publication date: January 2011 Publication date: April 2010 ISBN: 978­0­903517­21­8 Orders: £11.00 + postage Orders: £8.00 plus postage Orders: £5.00 + postage

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The Broken Rifle War Resisters' International The Broken Rifle is the news­ letter of WRI, and is published in supporting and connecting war resisters all over the English, Spanish, French and world German. This is issue 93, Please send your donation today to support the work of WRI – Thank You! August 2012. This issue of The Broken Rifle I want to support WRI: My address: was produced by Cattis Laska (Please tick at least one) and Andreas Speck. Special Name: ...... thanks go to Alvine Anderson, □ I enclose a donation of £/€/US$ ...... Jungmin Choi, Miles Tanhira, to WRI Address: ...... Tamara K Nopper, Pelao □ Please send me a receipt Carvallo, Yu Min­Seok, Tomato, □ I have completed credit card details over­ ...... Ali Erol, Hilal Demir, Mr. Fish, leaf Albert Beale and many others – □ I will set up a monthly/quarterly/yearly ...... especially to our team of (please delete) standing order to War Re­ voluntary translaters. sisters' International Country: If you want extra copies of this In Britain to Unity Trust Bank, ...... issue of The Broken Rifle, account no: 5072 7388, Sort Code: please contact the WRI office, or 08­60­01 for £ ...... Where to send your donation to: download it from our website. Eurozone: IBAN IE91 BOFI 9000 9240 4135 47, Bank of Ireland, for USA only: War Resisters' International, € ...... WRI Fund, c/o Tom Leonard, WRL, 5 Caledonian Road, □ Please send me a standing order form 339 Lafayette Street, New York, NY10012 London N1 9DX, Britain □ I enclose a CAF voucher for £ ...... tel +44­20­7278 4040 □ I enclose a cheque to A.J. Muste Institute Britain and everywhere else: fax +44­20­7278 0444 for US$ ...... WRI, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX, info@wri­irg.org Britain http://wri­irg.org/pubs/br93­ Please visit our webshop at http://wri­irg.org for War Resisters' International publications, WRI keeps supporters names and addresses on en.htm Broken Rifle badges, and other WRI mer­ computer, for our sole use. If you do not consent to chandise. Thank You! this, please let us know.

12 The Broken Rifle No 93, August 2012