The National: The battle over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and where it currently stands

During the Clinton administration, the United States’ government passed the famous Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law. It was an attempt to solve the issue in American culture relating to gays in society—more specifically, gays in the military.

In the years since its implementation, thousands of gay men and women serving and sacrificing in the military have been discharged. Now America finds itself addressing the issue once more as Don’t Ask Don’t Tell could be repealed—as it should be.

In a case brought forth by the Log Cabin Republicans, a federal judge has ruled that DADT is unconstitutional, putting the law in a state of limbo that congress must now deal with. Does this mean gays can now openly serve in the military? If they can, is it only temporary?

DADT has posed more of a threat to American security than any other policy or law regarding our military. It has shed a significant portion of military service members in a time when American troops are spread thin across the globe in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The repeal of DADT has certainly had its opposition. Senator John McCain (R) of Arizona is one such person opposing the repeal. McCain, who has formerly stated he wished DADT to be repealed in years past, currently wishes it to stay in place. The senator has pushed for a study of military personnel to be taken in order adequately gauge how members of the military would react to the removal of DADT.

A study has been carried out by the Pentagon regarding DADT that surveyed 400,000 soldiers and 150,000 military spouses—it was leaked and various media sources have reported on its contents. The Washington Post has reported that according to the survey, over 70 percent of soldiers felt that repealing DADT would not result in a negative outcome.

“Basically, all I have to say is that I worked along with those who were gay both male and female. Never had an issue with either,” said Joe, a reservist with the United States Air Force and Iraq war veteran (his real name has been kept anonymous). “My supervisor was actually gay and she was seriously someone that I looked up to because she did her job very well and was a damn good person.”

While such a survey considering our soldiers is a respectful measure to take, at some point we must also realize that the attitudes of our soldiers are a moot point. Being in the military carries with it a certain sacrifice—one being that, to put it bluntly, you do what you are told.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman integrated the United States military forces, ending an unconstitutional policy of segregation. It is true that he held studies of his own on the matter, but in the end what it came down to is that Truman made the decision, and gave the order—in keeping with the chain of command, the military followed suit. He didn’t ask the military as a whole how they felt, he made the call.

Should we ask our soldiers which battles they feel they want to fight? Should we ask them where we deploy or station them? Should we consider their feelings as we make every military decision? Again, bluntly, as a soldier you follow orders—even if that order is to fight along side those with whom you disagree.

We face a similar situation today as Truman did in his day. Though DADT is not a policy as segregation was, but rather a law, our congress must now gauge DADT against the constitution. When they conclude that the law is in deed unconstitutional, they must act accordingly allowing President Obama to make an order finally ending DADT.

“The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is an outdated way of thinking,” Joe said. “Gays deserve the same rights as any heterosexual especially if they stick their own life on the line.”

The time of DADT is coming to a close. As our federal courts find it unconstitutional, our military members showing they have no problem with it, and a movement in congress for its repeal, it won’t be long before society must accept that DADT is an un-American practice. In the end, there are few obstacles that prevent Americans from making a sacrifice for our country—being gay isn’t one of them.

“It just seems to me that being gay in the military doesn’t hamper someone doing the job unless you are the one that has the problem,” Joe said. “Isn’t doing the job all that your country asks of you while you are in the military?” ?