Dadt 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell':

DADT 'Don't ask, don't tell': The debate rages on 'Don't ask, don't tell' (DADT) is the policy that permits gay and lesbian men and women to serve in the military only if they conceal their sexuality. Despite objections to the law articulated by citizens, politicians, and servicemen alike, it continues to remains in force. "Senate Republicans blocked the attempt to move ahead with the bill that would have repealed the ban on gay troops serving openly in the military.

The vote was 57-40, almost entirely along party lines, and three short of the 60 needed….The vote was a setback to President Obama and the Democratic leadership, who have made repealing the Clinton-era policy a key priority. And it short-circuited the efforts of a handful of Republicans who said they supported a repeal but wanted more time to negotiate the process of debating and voting on the measure" (Shear 2010). There is mounting evidence that many distinguished gay and lesbian individuals have and are continuing to serve in the U.S.

military, soldiers such as Jonathan Hopkins. Hopkins was promoted to the rank of major one year early "a considerable achievement" even for a three time, bronze star-winning soldier (Mulrine 2010). "As a high school student, his score on the Pentagon's aptitude test for military service was so high that recruiters encouraged him to apply to West Point. He did, and he graduated fourth among his peers in the Class of 2001.

Hopkins then deployed once to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq, where the platoon he led helped secure Kirkuk in the war's first push" (Mulrine 2010). However, despite these impressive accomplishments, Hopkins lived in fear because of one simple reason: his sexuality. "Since 1993, some 12,500 gay men and lesbians have been discharged from the service when their sexual orientation became known, because either they or others made it public" (Don't ask, don't tell, 2010, the New York Times). The military has undergone sweeping changes before.

Even when the United States was polarized between the segregated south and non-segregated north, in 1948, the military had the courage to integrate African-American troops with white soldiers, noting the bravery they had shown on both fronts in World War II. At the time, an estimated 70-80% of the soldiers opposed the measure, but the military proceeded anyway. "By 1953, 90% of Army units were integrated, while buses in Montgomery, Ala., were not" (Mulrine 2010).

As a point of comparison, "48% of Army combat units…expressed concern about gays serving openly," less than a majority (Mulrine 2010). The objections raised to ending to DADT are similar to those raised against the army's decision to integrate its forces. Those who advocate the maintenance of DADT say that Americans are not ready to accept gays equally and openly. Yet legislation prohibiting the integration of the services was repealed many years before African-Americans were treated as equals in the racially polarized South.

Others say that there are questions about separate facilities -- yet gay and straight servicemen and women already share living quarters, just not openly. Furthermore, forcing gay men and women to lie about their sexual orientation essentially forces them to engage in dishonest behavior, which is conduct far more 'unbecoming' to an officer than being openly gay, critics allege.

Even the Pentagon's own "exhaustive nine-month study" concluded that repeal would only bring about "some limited and isolated disruption to unit cohesion and retention, which could be mitigated by effective leadership" (Bumiller 2010). The theme of leadership is a critical one. The U.S. military and Congress must lead the nation in dispelling prejudice against gays and lesbians.

By hanging back, despite the fact that the majority of servicemen and the public desire repeal, the military communicates to gay men and women that their service is not as valued as the sacrifice of straight people. It also validates prejudice and seems hypocritical: the policy suggests that being gay is something shameful, and should be kept in secret, even while the military claims to be defending freedom and choice abroad.

America is currently fighting two wars, as well as attempting to curtail the possibility of conflict in many areas of the world. To do so effectively requires the effort of every man or woman who is willing to serve. America currently has an all-volunteer fighting force and cannot afford to turn away men like Jonathan Hopkins, who have so much to give in the service of their country.

Much is asked of soldiers, and acting without prejudice towards their fellow men and women in uniform who happen to be gay must become one of the expectations of the type of good and respectful conduct demanded of soldiers. While there may be some logistical issues to determine, such as defining the rights and benefits of the long-term.