Thanks art. I did not realise there was such a difference between the term Judge in the US compared to the UK. Even so. I suspect he would now be looking for a job had he said it in the UK!

One of the big things about DADT is that STI's can go untreated in fear of being 'outed' by medical staff within the forces if certain STI's are found that could generally only be transmitted by a certain act. It still seems incredulous that grown men and women fighting for their country in the so-called 'free world' can be treated in such a way.

These people are not only asked to be brave and heroic, as all hetrosexuals are, but also show great bravery in living the way they do in the fear they are under of being discovered.

In the UK the problem does not arise. If you do your job then that is all the armed forces are interested in (on paper anyway). It has not always been the case I know but at least it is a step in the right direction.

Thanks for 'correcting' my ignorance in any case

mp