Gays are Good for the Military

This week, senior military officers from the U.K., Canada, Israel, Australia and the Netherlands have all said that concerns a decade ago about gays in the military were groundless. In fact, the Brits said that allowing gays to serve openly meant being able to hang on to good soldiers and sailors for longer, which helped boost the armed forces (a common reason experienced servicemen and women give for leaving in their 20s and 30s is to start families, which is less a concern for most gays and lesbians, sources say).

So, to mark this good news, here's a long-forgotten -- if indeed it was ever seen here -- Brit TV comedy series about a "concert party" in the dying days of WW2. The show, It Ain't half Hot, Mum, was notable for its casual and racist observations of the Brits in India, but more for showcasing the unforgettable Gloria, the troop of entertainers' only obviously gay member. Given the show aired prime time between 1971 and 1984, this was a relatively big deal then. OK, it's a clumsy and cliched (and actor Melvyn Hayes is straight), but still, a minor comedy gem if you like Brit humor.

Previously > Spies R' Us