Army Suspends Controversial Recruiter
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Friday, April 6 2007, 11:38AM
The U.S. Army has suspended a recruiter who sent anti-gay and anti-black email messages to a black gay man. U.S. Army recruiter Sgt. Marcia Ramode sent several emails in response to Corey Andrew, a New Jersey man, who had originally posted his resume on CareerBuilder.com. After Andrew received an unexpected reply from the Army, he sent back a message asking about the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that excludes gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. Ramode wrote back that being gay made him unqualified, and that homosexuality was "disgusting and immoral."
Early this morning, the Chicago Tribune reported that Sgt. Ramode had been suspended from recruiting duties until an investigation is complete. Douglas Smith, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Recruitment Command at Ft. Knox, Ky., said he could not comment on Ramode's actions because of the investigation, but he did say that recruiters are expected to behave professionally and that there is a protocol for handling situations when applicants reveal that they are gay. "If an applicant makes a statement that he or she is homosexual, the recruiter must inform the applicant in a professional manner that they are not eligible for enlistment," Smith said in a statement.
Andrew, who has posted comments about his case on this web site, said he has no interest in making money off the case. Instead, he told the Tribune that he wants to see her discharged from the military for acting unprofessionally. "What bothers me most is that you and I are paying for this person to be writing this blatant filth," Andrew said. "She should not be representing the military."
Comments conceal
Equalnox
April 6 2007, 12:37PM
Once Sgt. Marcia Ramode is dishonorably discharged from the military, let's all go over to her house and do our gay, voodoo, limbo, tango, and wango dance and run all over her front yard half naked.
Doug Cooper-Spencer
April 6 2007, 1:38PM
I hope Corey follows up on this matter so the recruiter isn't just suspended.
deejay
April 6 2007, 7:56PM
CNN also covered this story.
I was troubled by the way CNN reporter ended the story. He noted that,in the wake of this incident, other recruiters in the area (Brooklyn?) have reported receiving death threats.
It was as if he was saying that Negroes can't wait to set something, anything, off with violence.
jazzi
April 6 2007, 8:05PM
Corey provoked an argument over military policy so that makes him....hero of the moment? The recruiter was wrong in what she said & should be dealt with accordingly but, aside from all the ignorant remarks & being dumb enough to allow herself to be baited into an argument by someone trying to promote a cd, she was merely stating military policy, a policy she did not create. What was he trying to prove with this publicity stunt? That "Don't ask, don't tell" is ludicrous? Like we didn't know that already. He picked a fight with the wrong person. She's too low on the ladder to even matter. She "just works here", so to speak. She did go way overboard with her comments but this guy....I just don't see the point in going after a low level official to prove that a certain aspect of military policy doesn't work, unless you're just trying to get your name & face out there to sell something. I think that might be the case.
edwin greene
April 6 2007, 8:26PM
deejay, I saw that CNN story about Corey Andrew. The ending left me with the same ambivalent feelings you had.
Dan Woog
April 7 2007, 4:43PM
Our tax dollars at work.
alicia banks
April 8 2007, 4:19PM
i am homosexual...not homicidal
i hope this rabid black gaybashing fool has murdered his military career
peace
ab
eloquent fury
www.geocities.com/ambwww
edwin greene
April 9 2007, 9:58AM
My understanding is that Corey put his resume online and received an unsolicited email from an Army recruiter. He responded to the email and told them he was gay. Things went from there. No one forced the recruiter to respond to him the way she did.
No one is saying Corey is a "hero" but because black gay men are so often crucified for trying to hide their sexual orientation, he did a brave thing by coming out to the recruiter, standing his ground and later apearing on CNN.
Trying to sell a cd is not the worst thing in the world - he apparently is unemployed. If he can use this incident to sell his cd, so what? By the way he did not mention his cd when he was on CNN.
Corey Andrew
April 10 2007, 12:50PM
Thanks, I haven't mentioned my CD in the press at all. In fact the only time I've spoken about it (and briefly) is online, maybe twice, as I've invited bloggers to discover something about me that is positive verses this email madness.
Also, many bloggers who have discovered my music have added my link to their pages on their own. I am flattered and honored but it was not calculated on my part.
I am not ashamed to say I am happy to have people discover that I am a peace loving artist and not an email war-inviting trouble maker who baited a US military sergeant into ruining her own career with self inflicted ignorance and poor judgement.
I love applause but please don't give me that much credit.
-Corey Andrew-
Aaron
April 10 2007, 2:12PM
We have so much self loathing in our community its no wonder Black on Black hate has replaced Jim Crow. How in the HELL could he have ever figured his response would get him publicity from the NEWS!!!! No news has generated from some of these ignorant ass responses on Keith's blog and Keith's livelihood is media based.
Rally around when ugly has been done to one of us because it is the ugly done to all of us, unless you are not one of us and to that I say bother your own with your unenlightened opinions.
Todius
April 10 2007, 5:59PM
Can we say Don Imus? enough said.
Comment Preview