Steve Ralls Quotations

I don't anticipate that their fight has ended with this decision.

Based on the information we have, it looks like the officials at Fort Huachuca are not holding anyone responsible for the attack and the threats against Pvt. Lawson. According to Lawson, the guy who attacked him only had his weekend passes revoked. That's simply outrageous.

I strongly disagree with that. Clearly, the officials at Fort Huachuca understood Pvt. Lawson was in danger -- otherwise they would not have had him under the drill sergeant's care.

We want to be sure sexual orientation is not used as a roadblock for security clearance approval.

We cannot emphasize enough what a serious risk a military screen name is for a service member; it creates a red flag just waiting to be brought to a command's attention,

The very idea that the federal government believes freedom of speech is a threat to national security is unconscionable.

The silver lining in this decision is that it has focused attention on the underlying issue of the prejudicial 'don't ask, don't tell' policy.

The Thai military is only among the latest who are far ahead of the United States in recognizing that sexuality and gender identity have zero impact in having someone doing their job. The United States should follow Thailand's example. It's a matter of national security.

Russia has no exclusive ban, one way or the other,

It's a symbolic gesture to argue the law has been effectively implemented. One of the criticisms of Solomon is that it has never been implemented before. The law has been used as a threat to law schools but has never been implemented.

Don't ask, don't tell' would be the least of their concerns because this involved conduct for the exchange of money and conduct for an internet pornographic Web site. 'Don't ask, don't tell' is the most minor of the offenses.

It's not a requirement, but there's not a zone of privacy either.

Service members, family and friends are beginning to learn that 'don't ask, don't tell' is a very effective weapon of vengeance.

I'm not going to make excuses for service members who are taking part in sexual conduct for money. It would be absolutely criminal regardless of whether they were heterosexual or gay.