The Arizona Lawmaker Afraid of Lacey-Drawered, Limp-Wristed Soldiers

Memorial Day is supposed to be a time of remembrance, with maybe some outdoor fun or camping thrown in the mix to kick-off the start of the summer season. But in the case of Yuma, Arizona mayor Al Krieger, Memorial Day was a chance to deliver some of the most homophobic comments yet regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Krieger was speaking at Desert Lawn cemetery in Yuma, delivering some remarks to honor America's fallen soldiers. But what Krieger had to say wasn't entirely honorable. Instead, it was a direct attack on the 14,000 soldiers who've been kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation, not to mention the thousands of others who want to serve their country, but can't because they are openly lesbian or gay.

"I cannot believe a bunch of lacey-drawered, limp-wristed people could do what those men have done in the past," Krieger said, suggesting that if the military opens its doors to openly gay and lesbian soldiers, it will weaken the nation's Armed Forces. "We need solid, strong men to fight those battles. Not pacifists."

No word on whether Mayor Krieger finished his speech by taking an empty beer can and smashing it on his head, or by lifting up his shirt and chest-bumping the local chief of police. But you've got to hand it to Mayor Krieger. He's giving Jan Brewer and J.D. Hayworth a run for their money when it comes to the game of "Politicians Say the Darndest Things."

Mayor Krieger obviously believes that every single gay and lesbian person is, one, a pacifist, and two, a weakling. Truthfully, he's pegged me. (Except I don't wear lacey drawers. At least not on a Thursday.) But his sweeping paint brush toward the entire LGBT community is not only offensive, it's entirely inaccurate.

Think of those 14,000 men and women who entered into the U.S. military, only to be thrown out because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Many of them rose through the ranks, becoming rock star soldiers praised by their commanders. Many of them were not only physically fit, but mentally some of the toughest soldiers the U.S. military has ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Veteran Eric Alva, who was the first American soldier wounded in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, took little time in calling out Mayor Krieger for his ridiculous comments.

"These hateful words are absolutely inconsistent with the unbending physical and mental courage that I encountered among all of the men and women with whom I served, whether gay or straight," Alva wrote on HRC's Backstory. "Many members in my unit knew I was gay — and this simple truth never once came in the way of our ability to do our job."

Seriously, take one good look at Eric Alva. Or take a look at Lt. Dan Choi. Or take a look at former Army Capt. Rebecca Elliott. Or how about former Army Sgt. Shonda Garrison? These are folks who are not only physically tough, but folks who carry a heaping amount of integrity with them, as they continue to speak out against the travesty that is "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

I'd never be one to condone physical violence. But man, if I had to choose between Mayor Krieger or "limp-wristed soldiers" like Alva, Choi, Elliott, or Garrison, I know where my money would be. And it wouldn't be on some pencil-pushing mayor from Arizona with a penchant for homophobic rhetoric on national days of remembrance.

Photo credit: The U.S. Army