“There’s a new battle plan for bringing the battleship Iowa to San Francisco,” the Chronicle reports.
The battleship’s supporters now hope to gain the support of city leaders by turning part of the vessel into a museum about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military.
The Board of Supervisors rejected the ship in July, and two supervisors explained their “no” votes by saying they objected to the military’s policies toward gays and lesbians, while others opposed the war in Iraq.
Battleship = Gay Museum?
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{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is discusting and The Mighty Battleship Iowa deserves a better place as a museum. San Francisco does not deserve a Battleship Museum. I hope it goes to Stockton.
NO, the Battleship Iowa must not be a Gay Museum.
Museum YES, Gay NO.
I urge the Iowa be part of a Pacific War Museum Complex honoring WW2 1941-1945.
& planned Japan invasion of Nov 1945.
OR move the ship to San Diego or Stockton.
BUT not SF Bay please.
this is down-right disgusting! if they don’t want the Battleship then by all means snub then and give the ship to SD or Long Beach or Stockton but not SF. the city benefited so much from the Navy duing the second World War yet as opposed to honor the military, that gave the city so much, they simply disregard. it says alot about the lack of character and honor in SF.
Oh dear lord dont let the Iowa become a gay museum. Any thing other than a gay museum. It would go to more use as scrap then as a GAY museum, not that I want it to go to scrap but as long as its not a GAY museum, make it a museum yes but make it a WWII museum, send it to Pearl to sit beside the Missouri that would be more productive than to use it as a GAY museum. This is a disgrace that they are even considering it.
Where is the ship now?
And we it is going, does it really deminish the memory?, get real people!
To all the people above, you really don’t no any gay peaple, oh please, smell the coffee!
This is unreal. I’m sure the Sailors who served aboard the USS IOWA would be extremely disappointed in their country and their Navy if their ship was allowed to be turned into a Gay memorial. Some gave their lives to defend the freedoms that this great country enables, however, I’m sure this isn’t what they had in mind. Make it a real museum to honor all those who have served honorably. Don’t pick one minority group, that would only dishonor the rest.
Erm the comments seem more like gay-bashing than they do about the lack of respect shown by the San Francisco authorities for a battleship memorial … other old ships have been turned into artificial reefs etc, which in no way diminishes their memory or record of service … if gay people want the ship, why not? surely it’s better than it being sold for scrap?
Having served on Iowa’s sister ship, the USS Wisconsin during reactivation in the 1980′s and during the Gulf War, I think this is a terrible idea. Gay issues aside, the city of San Francisco had their chance and they blew it. Fact of the matter is that even as a museum, this ship will costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain and transform into a museum, and not a lot of American cities are willing to take on such a burden, if the tourist dollars are not a sure thing. These ships are probably the most graceful and powerful ships to ever sail and the mere sight of them leaves most people in awe……Lets put the USS Iowa in a place that 1. Wants her 2. Will preserve her integrity as a instrument of war 3. Has the resources to maintain her. If not, lets scrap her and move on.
I’d like to see the Iowa docked in Iowa.
As a former HM2 I hope that the Iowa does not get turned into a Gay Musuem. Leave as it was a war ship. Staff SGT Rocky L Huddleston Air National Guard
I have to say that I am very glad that it is not going to happen. I am not a “gay basher”, but I don’t think that a batteship payed for with federal tax dollars should be a gay museum. As a matter of fact I would be upset if they wanted to make it a straight museum. After all, a battle ship museum should be about the ship’s history. Not peoples sex lives.
to all you people who want to see the battleship turned into a gay museum. you all can stick it where the sun dont shine. im a soldier in iraq right now and i think if you turn it into a museum for gays you are dishonoring not only the sailors who served on the battleship but all the servicemen and woman who have died fighting for this country. like the others turn it into a museum but a museum dedicated to all the sailors who served aboard one the most powerful battleships ever built.
You gotta be kidding me. Why would this even be considered? Again, the liberal, democratic and gay agenda.
What a slap in the face of the Navy – and all who have served.
Send her to San Diego. San Francisco dosn’t want her or deserve her. San Diego will honor the Iowa and do her proud.
As a daughter — former military brat — of a now-deceased O-6 (SS, LOM, DFC, PH, AM(2), to name a few — and a service academy — GO ARMY! — honors grad), and as someone who could not be qualified as a ‘phobe’ (for personal reasons I will only allude to), this thought by the loons in SF disgusts me.
To hell with ‘em. They played politics ONCE with a noble ship. Let a city that won’t turn it into a floating monument to their civic looney narcissism look after the old gal. To echo the suggestion: San Diego… a West Coast city with a great respect for, and close association to, the Navy. It could be docked right near downtown — near the old Broadway Pier, near the Convention Center, or north near the waterfront park that is north of Lindbergh Field.
I don’t see anything in the opening comments about the IOWA becoming a “gay museum” (whatever that is). I do see where a portion of the ship would have information about how the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has affected the maritime services (as well as the others). But maybe the IOWA should be towed to the gulf coast and be made into one of the “super levees” that will need to be constructed to keep N.O. from going under again. (And as a side note, I really wish bloggers would learn how to spell and what words to use where appropriate; ie: “there” is not the same as “their” or as “they’re”.)
The discrimination against openly (I say openly because thousands proudly serve and protect us) Gay and Lesbian service in the Military patterns the discrimination against Black American service members almost exactly. I chuckle when I read the passionate indignation of comments like those on this site because the outcome will inevitably be the same as well.
20 years from now this type of news wont grab anyones attention because ultimately our society is going to accept the role of all Americans in public and military service. If you disagree, ask yourself whether Colin Powell could have risen to his prominence pre-1960? And if you really believe that our society wont become more tolerant, spend a few minutes watching MTV or AOL chat rooms to understand the perspective of todays youth before they become tomorrows voters. Each succeeding generation becomes successively more tolerant.
Whether or not the Iowa becomes the first museum honoring Gay and Lesbian service members misses the point that inevitably this type of public appreciation is going to happen. I hope the great city of San Francisco leads the way.
I can’t believe we’re even discussing this! To use what was once a symbol of our nations might to promote the gay agenda is an outrage. Sinking her would be a more dignified end than to allow it to be turned into a gay museum.
I would rather turn her into Scrapmetal that see this happen.
Folks:
I’m not in the habit of censoring comments. But, on my site, I will not allow spittle-flecked maniacs to rant about killing people, just because of who they sleep with. If you post that crap, I will delete it. Period. End of story.
Feel free to voice any opinion you want about the Iowa, or any other topic. Personally, I think the “museum” idea is ridiculous, and panders to all involved.
But I’m drawing the line at hate, at mass murder. Don’t like it? Get lost. Click somewhere else.
nms
Have you people ever served or spent anytime on a military installation? their are Gay and lesbian people all over the military. Besides they didnt say they were going to make it a musuem of man on man love they just want an exhibite. geez what a bunch of closet homos.
I would far rather see that wonderful old ship under the sea making a home for sea life than as a museum for gay rights in the military. If this is true of the Iowa supporters, they should be ashamed of themselves and be replaced.
To whom it may concern
Please I repeat please don’t turn the great
battleship Iowa in to a gay museum, It is a
great part of history, if you do this what then
are you going after the battleships new jersey,
and missouri thay were all built as sister ships
to avenge the attack on pearl harbour….
steve
Its just me, but wouldnt making the Iowa into a museum about the ‘dont ask dont tell’ policy, be breaking the aforementioned policy? Wouldnt this be breaking naval rules & regs?
Well I am just glad to know that nothing like this will ever happen to the Alabama. Why don’t they send the Iowa to SD or Pearl Harbor. Or better yet, turn it into a coral reef.
Has the Navy gone crazy? It would be a disgrace for all who have served in the Navy!!!
This is wrong and to have it to be a part of something to do with a gay person. This is like selling your soul to the devil and being send to hell.
well, i’m a little disappointed in this topic….my home town is norfolk, va and we have the Wisconsin(BB64) homeported there as a museum. Battleships are very beautiful ships. They are strong, intimidating, and I have a respect for them and the men that served on them that will never die. The USS Iowa should not be a gay museum.
After reading all of the comments posted here, it’s obvious that very few people even took time to read the article before responding.
GET A LIFE!
I see many here who claim that it would somehow dishonor the sailors who served on her. Some claim that it would disgrace the entire Navy.
Ladies & Gentlemen, gays and lesbians have served our country since its inception, and will continue to serve with honor long after we are gone.
It seems patently obsurd that gays should be snubbed on this ship. I know that many of us here remember that terrible day back in 1989 when there was an explosion in main gun Turret No. 2, killing 47 sailors.
The Navy, in its wisdom and compassion, chose to scapegoat the entire situation by claiming that it was a murder-suicide involving two gay sailors.
Finally, in 1992, the Navy finally admitted that neither sailor was gay.
It just seems to me that [b]lies[/b] do more to disgrace servicemembers than [b]the truth[/b] ever will.
I see folks saying San Francisco doesn’t deserve to have a ship there, BUT, Does Anyone remember “dungaree liberty in Seattle”, or “city clean-up” in Long Beach, or every ship capable, getting underway for three weeks starting on the day before payday from San Diego? I recall greeting a family with a simple “Good Morning” on the street in Honolulu after church one Sunday and being spat on by a teen-age daughter while her father and mother laughed. Those were the days when we proudly wore the uniform ashore. I always felt the attitude of any large Navy port was the same.
“Be quiet, don’t cause trouble, leave your money, and go away.”
Ships as museums? Great idea.
Cities that want them?
Cities that deserve them? Where?????
I would be proud to visit the USS Iowa in San Francisco to honor and respect the men that served and died aboard this mighty vessel.Her keel was not laid with one group in mind, but to serve all who sailed her and all who belived in protecting our freedom.For SF to make it (gay museum ) what it is not is a lack of respect for those who served in the military. We don’t go out and give our lives for just Gays we do it for all mankind.I’ve lived in the bay area most of my life and also proud to have served in the US Navy.For this group of people(whom ever they might be)to even think this idea was good must be smoking some bad stuff
The USS Iowa DID have gay crewmembers, and some of them DID give their lives in service to their country, and none of them want any of you. OK?
Funny thing, how something so stupid can cause so much FEAR.
I hope they have a section reserved for WOMEN as well. And don’t forget the thousands of black sailors who served on that ship, but were ONLY given menial tasks/jobs, until after Truman’s desegregation orders. THEY deserve a special recognition, even more so than gays.
ALL ships in the U.S. Navy have at 1 time or another had at least some gay crewmembers, in fact ALL ships anywhere, just like all Combat-Units anywhere, and since the dawn of warfare, have had gay members in their ranks. SO WHAT…???
Would you rather die at sea in some terrible attack on your ship, or perhaps in a FIRE, or have a gay shipmate drag your dumb-ass to shore, saving your life?
Get OVER it. The USS IOWA would make a tremendous addition to the San Francisco Harbor, it would draw hundreds of thousands of paying-visitors every year (some of whom would be gay), and who even CARES if there is a section of the ship devoted to the service and sacrifice of gay shipmates?
Those that are afraid… (Of Course).
Are you all kidding?
The only people that have something to fear from having some area of this magnificent ship designated as a tribute to gays who served and perhaps DIED on the USS Iowa, are those few homophobes that are just plain AFRAID.
Boo hoo hoo… You poor, picked-on “Straights”.
Bringing this ship to San Fran would mean millions of $$$ in local revenues, an invaluable historic museum and educational platform, and a reminder to straights and gays alike… War in ANY form, is something to be AVOIDED. The same homophobes that are crying about this, would also surely accept the help of a gay sailor, dragging their butt to shore if their ship was on fire.
I served on 2 Aircraft Carriers in time of War, and I was never “bothered” by any gay crewmember, but I did know a few, and they served with as much honor, pride and distinction as anybody else.
I am secure in my “straightness”. Are you?
Lose the homophobe-attitudes, dudes.
what an insult to the ship and all the people who served in her! and to the rest of the armed forces! the world will never see a ship of her calibre again and rather put her in a place where she can be appreciated for what she is.
pity a katrina couldnt hit san fransisco……….!!!!! and clean it out!
Another attempt to use a revered historical artifact for selfish political ends. Todays political correctness make me want to puke. Let the ship go to a city that would appreciate her contribution to our freedom.
The Iowa being in “San Francisco” as any kind of museum would be a slap in the face to every veteran that served on her. Why disgrace this fine old ship and her past crews by berthing her in a modern day Sodom.
You gotta be kidding me! I served for over 20 years and to even remotely think of making something that is as honorable at the USS Iowa anything other than a War museum is just plain STUPID! God why don’t these liberal freaks move to Iran and Saudi Arabia and see how they will tolerate their diatribes over there! Give us Veterans a break and stay out of what is done with military hardware!
Sailorcop
Jacksonville, Fl.
I’m a veteran, I served four years, part of them in Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged. I’m also queer. First I’m dissappointed by the stunning level of illiteracy shown here. It says they plan to turn part of the vessel into a museum about gays, not all of the ship. Iowa isn’t going to become a “gay museum”. Second to all of you verterans out there, do the contributions of your fellow service men and women who happen to be gay mean nothing? Should they be forgotten? Maybe we should do away with memorials to Black service men and women, how about no memorials honoring Italian service men and women etc etc.
Fact is that you’re simply homophobic.
Considering how San Francisco and the surrounding area tended to treat the military when I was there, I don’t think they deserve anything that could contribute to their economy. They certainly didn’t contribute to my feeling welcome as a military member. Put the Iowa someplace where they respect the military. I agree – Run her up the Mississippi and park her in the state of Iowa.
As a retired Command Master Chief, it makes me sick to even think one of our proud ship of the line to be used in that manor. She deserves better. I would rather see her made into a reef that go to San Francisco.
I live near Jacksonville and they let the Saratoga go and it’s being scrapped- enough- save the ship. I saw the Mothball fleet from WWII and even the first nuclear sub-I think it was the Nautilus? up by Portsmouth Va. years ago being cut into railroad sise car pieces of steel, sold to Mexico, then to Japan, re-tooled, and sold back to us. What an ignoble end for the vessels that saved the world. I Believe the Navy wanted 3 million for the sara and Jax could only raise (Sarah’s vet’s) around 2 mil so they sold it to a scrapper for around 1 mil. Horsheshit. Save the ship priority one, don’t let it be scrapped, then we have the rest of history to argue about her.
What an ignominius end this would be for one of the most decorated ships in the history of our country. Move her to some port where she will be appreciated and revered – she deserves it…
You missed point. Everyone knows gays have been in the military for thousands of years. My whole point is why single out that group. Perhaps we should set aside a spot on the ship for the married sailors, single sailors, single parent sailors, sailors from broken homes, prior service sailors. We have all done our time, we should be honored on our merit and military accomplishments. I don’t really care what gender you prefer. The ship should represent the those who chose to serve. If you need to be singled out, use this stat. Veterans (gay and strait)represent only 1% of the population.
ABOUT THE BATTLESHIP IOWA THE SHIP AND ALL THE SAILORS THAT SERVED ON HER ARE TO GOOD TO BE IN SUCH A F****D UP CITY. I HAD RATHER THE IOWA BE TOWED OUT AND USED AS A TARGET THAN GO TO SANFRANCISCO. DO NOT FORGET A LOT OF PEOPLE GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
BM2 (SW/AW) THOMAS D. GIBBS
Are you kidding??!!!!!
I hope that the powers to be have enough sense of Naval tradition and honor to not allow the USS Iowa and her sister ships be dragged through the immoral ditch that is the “Gay Community”.
I personally believe that the service of the USS Iowa deserves better thann to be known as the the “Gay Battleship”.
I believe everyone has a choice in how they live, but there is no reason to push that way of life on the US Military or the government and all of us who live normal lives.
I like the idea. It’ll be a butthole ship instead of a battleship.
Considering how anti-military (as well as anti-American) that San Francisco has proven to be over the years through their city government, the Iowa shouldn’t be docked there. Ever.
The Iowa is sacred, not a compromised memorial for every special interest group that they care to load on; it should celebrate all veterans as veterans, not as their civilian subgroups.
I’m an ex-crewman, having proudly served aboard USS Iowa from 1988-1990. I was aboard during the turret 2 explosion, and I helped lay her up post-decommissioning.
I’d rather see her cut to razorblades than to be put to such a desecration. The mere thought of this dishonors the men who proudly served aboard her decks. I am outraged.
The mere fact that there is rampant homophobia in this country that professes “liberty and justice for ALL” and that the homophobia extends to cover an entire city as lovely and wonderful as San Francisco – speaks to the need to honor those who are still persecuted for simply being different. God bless all the men and women who choose something different – regardless of the dominant culture that demonizes them based on their religious beliefs. I thought we were truly making progress to include everyone in the equation of diverstiy. Now, South Africa has legalized gay marriage. It’s ironic that the US lags behind in being an open CIVIL society for EVERYONE. I am sure many will think I am a liberal gay person, but I am not. I am an 80 year old woman who respects all types of people because I have met them and they form a very important part of my family. Gays are not bad people, but they are still treated as evil and if we don’t help them pull themselves up from the gutter instead of pushing them into it…well, I don’t see why you all protest so much. Perhaps you are hiding your real desires? I’ve seen it before – those who protest the most are usually the real sick perverts who molest children because they can’t accept themselves. Come on people, we are better than this, it’s the 21st century and it feels like the dark ages – no worse, Neanderthal. I thought we were more intelligent that some of these comments show. A lot of education is needed – and we don’t LEARN from people who are LIKE US. We learn from differences. Period.
The Iowa will go to Stockton. Fresh, deep water. Just like the other three ships of the class.
They’re gonna use my tax dollars to paint the old gray lady PINK and dedicate a museum to
“fudge packers?” Sound like they’re movin’ at warp speed on the greasy slick rails to hell!
I cant believe how attached most of you are getting to a ship. the ship did not do anything, it was the people on the ship that you all should be thinking about! quit worshiping it like it was an extension of god.
As for the idea of them turning it into a museum that houses a section on the gays and lesbians, whats wrong with that? I would imagine it would be very difficult to not be able to be honest about yourself, and always having to either lie or withold information. I think they deserve a section on their history and troubles. i mean my god, how many naval museums are there? I think we can spare one section of one museum to all our gay and lesbian military personel.
I served aboard this great ship during World War 11. What a shame that this country has such low-life leadership as San Francisco. The gates to hell are wide and just waiting for for such idiots. I say, bring the USS Iowa to the MISSISSIPPI Gulf Coast. I can assure the Navy that the Iowa would find a home that would never desecrate her, but would salute her in the finest Mississippi tradition.
where is the americain
rhis
rhis is a test we need protein
First of all, I’d like to salute the patriotism of the men of the armed forces that posted here. This whole gay ship is a natural extension of groups thinking that they should have the “right” to serve our country.
It started with allowing the blacks into the armed forces, then women–we know they can’t fight and they are a distraction. Now foreigners and the gays want to be able to get recognition.
God, Man and Country. Call me racist, call me homophobic, call me sexist, but folks if we want to win wars we can’t be afraid of these things. God supports us, he blesses us as proud military men. I stand with God and I am proud of my service.
I agree with the poster below regarding only allowing white men into the military, although I think we should take it one step further. We should only allow HOT, buff, lonely, open-minded, smooth skinned men into the military. Especially the NAVY. God Bless the USA. These colors do not run!
Hello Dylan. It saddens me to read such a hate filled post from an otherwise fine young man. Who taught you such hatred for your brothers and sisters? Where in the Gospels did Our Lord teach hatred? I read that he taught acceptance and tolerance for those we despise the most. I guess we only believe what we want to believe regardless of the facts. So sad.
May God grant you peace and heal your bitter troubled soul.