US paras fingered over gay porn

Makes a change from torturing Iraqis...

By John Oates • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 27th February 2006 11:26 GMT

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Seven US soldiers have been charged over offenses linked to their appearance on a gay porn site.

The men are charged with "sodomy, pandering and engaging in sex for money while being filmed", Reuters reports. One is also charged with adultery.

Four of the accused have already received "nonjudicial" punishment - they were confined to barracks for 45 days, demoted to private, and given extra duties. The remaining three members of the 2nd battalion of the 82nd Airborne will be arraigned 7 March.

The army is pushing for all seven to be discharged.

Army investigations began in January after it emerged that some military-themed gay porn sites were using real soldiers.

Specialist news site Fleshbot reports that the site involved is likely to be "Active Duty" - registered in Fayetteville, near Fort Bragg - home to the 82nd Airborne. The site offers membership from $24.95 a month.

The 82nd Airborne is one of the most revered US military units - it was involved in the Normandy landings, the invasion of Grenada, and the first Gulf War. According to its website the Airborne is "America's Guard of Honour", at just 18 hours notice it can achieve: "forcible entry into any area of the world" and its soldiers "have always been ready and willing to jump into danger". More here.

The US Army has a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude to homosexuality - homosexuality is not a bar to service but homosexual conduct is - guess that includes making gay porn.

More details from not-entirely work-safe Fleshbot here. and 365Gay here.

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