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Do you agree with the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy?
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Our View: The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is an important step toward equality and greater military effectiveness, but isn’t the end of the fight.
Today marks the official end of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy — a law that has lost the armed services more than 13,500 service members (750 of which came from “critical occupations”) and at least $190 million, according to Department of Defense and Government Accountability Office reports. It’s not only an opportunity to celebrate our progress toward equality for all but also a chance to look forward to the next steps.
The new, more inclusive policy will improve overall troop cohesion and effectiveness by increasing the trust and openness of units, and improving the effectiveness of GLBT service members who no longer have to hide their identity.
It will help retain those service members and stop the hemorrhaging of resources. It will establish respect and support for every citizen willing to risk their life for their country.
But the fight is far from over. GLBT service members deserve to be treated like other soldiers. That means their families should be given military health benefits, assistance during deployment and access to all other services families of other soldiers receive.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta should work around the doomed Defense of Marriage Act to make same-sex married couples eligible for the same benefits their peers are offered.
As commander in chief, President Barack Obama should sign an executive order to officially ban discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and add sexual orientation to the list of protected classes in armed services policy that are given recourse outside their chain of command to address discrimination.
Race, gender and other classes already are protected for a reason. GLBT service members don’t want special treatment, just the same treatment as everyone else.
Most importantly, it is time to mend the wrongs perpetrated against our service members by this policy. Those discharged under the policy should have a chance to re-enlist. The military has lost far too many qualified and dedicated men and women under this policy.
Those who don’t wish to join back up should at least have their discharge changed to honorable — particularly those who were dismissed after honorable service in past wars and have lived with that dishonorable label for far too long.
Hopefully, this change will be a boon to the entire community. Myths that propagate fear will fade as more people encounter openly GLBT service members. We rightfully respect members of the military, and now America will see that GLBT service members worthy of that respect too.
Everyone should do their part by recognizing that, regardless of our opinions about war or our feelings about particular demographics, any member of the military is making the same sacrifices and deserves nothing less than our gratitude.
We’re all Americans struggling with the same problems, seeking the same sense of community and working toward the same security for ourselves and our loved ones.
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cacremin 8 months, 1 week ago
It's important to remember that the even though the military no longer officially discriminates based on sexuality they still descriminate based on religion. They force recruits to take a "spiritual fitness test" and if they "fail" (read: don't believe in god) they are subjected to counseling. The FBI has gone a step further, actively condemning the religion of Islam and blaming all of its members for the spread of terrorism.
hnorth 8 months, 1 week ago
It is a wonderful step in the right direction. GLBT friendly