One week after the U.S. Congress repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don‘t Tell” policy, prohibiting homosexuals and lesbians from serving openly in the armed services, a top Navy captain has been relieved of his command for writing and starring in a series of gay-bashing videos with lewd sexual innuendos.
XO Movie Night videos
Captain Owen Honors is described as the mastermind behind several dozen videos produced while he was the Executive Officer (XO) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. The videos were shown via closed-circuit television to the 6,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier in 2006 and 2007, when it was deployed in support of troops in Afghanistan. Honors dubbed the high quality films as “XO Movie Night” and used equipment from the public affairs office for their creation.
Production of the videos came to an end in 2007 after the carrier strike force became aware of their content. However, they just recently received public notice after an article by The Virginian-Pilot, based in Norfolk, VA, broke the story on January 1, 2011. The article was reposted in full at Military.com.
Official Navy response to XO Movie Night videos
Before the story was released, the Navy responded to The Virginian-Pilot with a statement that called the XO Movie Night videos “humorous skits focusing the crew's attention on specific issues such as port visits, traffic safety, water conservation, ship cleanliness, etc."
However, once the article was published and national attention focused on the bawdy videos, a Navy spokesperson revealed that an investigation regarding Honors and the videos was underway. Asked about the military career of Honors in an Associated Press article, Cmdr. Chris Sims of U.S. Fleet Forces Command stated via email that: "The investigation currently being conducted will provide the necessary information to make that decision in an informed manner."
Sims said the videos are “not acceptable in today’s Navy,” and that executive officers are “charged to lead by example and are held accountable for setting the proper tone and upholding the standards of honor, courage and commitment that we expect sailors to exemplify.”
Honors was promoted to the Commander of the USS Enterprise, which is in port in Norfolk and scheduled for deployment.
Defending the honor of Owen Honors
Service personnel who served under Honors and others have rushed to his defense, using Facebook and online forums to applaud his professionalism and downplay the XO Movie Night videos.
Military.com, a site connecting military and veterans and claiming a membership of 10 million, ran a poll on January 3, asking the question: “What do you think about the controversial Enterprise videos?” Respondents have three choices, abbreviated as “Truly offensive,” “A major morale boost and truly funny,” and “Bad, but not fatal.” Fifty-six percent of the respondents selected the second option, finding the videos a morale boost and humorous.
The official Facebook fan page for the USS Enterprise contains overwhelming accolades for Honors, designating him an “American hero,” a “regular guy” and a “high standarding officer [sic],” among other titles. The XO Movie Night videos have been compared to Saturday Night Live skits and offered up as “naval aviation humor.” One poster claimed the films were doctored while others said the entire news event was an effort at political correctness at the expense of Honors.
Some of the Facebook posts have also devolved into bashing gays and other posters, sniping at the media and belittling “bleeding heart liberals.” There are frequent mentions of the honor of the USS Enterprise being tarnished and others which question the leadership of Honors.
Altogether, there are seven recently published Facebook pages related to Owen Honors, including a single one which calls for his dismissal. Dump Owen Honors has a single post on its wall with three respondents, including the author.
Gay rights groups respond to XO Movie Night videos
At the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, its executive director called for a Navy investigation into the films. Aubrey Sarvis, an Army veteran and head of the legal action organization, made a brief statement in which he said that Owens was “acting more like the president of a frat house rather than the executive officer of the USS Enterprise.” The non-profit organization was created in 1993 with the implementation of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and provides confidential legal services to those who are discriminated against or harassed due to the former law.
Other organizations dedicated to the rights of gays and lesbians have republished the breaking news story carried in The Virginian-Pilot but no official statements have as yet emanated from these groups.
XO Movie videos show the divide
One undocumented result of the release of the XO Movie Night videos is the divide between those favoring gays and lesbians openly serving in the military and those opposed to this new status. As the Navy investigation into Owen Honors deepens, it is likely this rift will become even more apparent.
Sources
Dump Owen Honors. (2011 January 3) ). [Online Forum Comments].
Jelinek, P. 2010 December 22. ‘Don’t Ask’ policy becomes history. WAVY News 10 Online.
Jordan, B. 2011 January 3. Enterprise Skipper condemned, defended. Military.com.
2011 January 3. The Muster: Military.com’s Daily Poll.
Potter, D and Szkotak, S. 2011 January 4. Navy probes raunchy videos by carrier officer even as sailors defend them as good fun. The Ponca City News: Ponca City, OK.
Sarvis, A. 2011 January 3.SLDN Statement on offensive behavior aboard USS Enterprise by executive officer.Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) official fan page. (2011, January 3). [Online Forum Comments].
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