Don’t ask, don’t tell
I learned something appalling recently. The U.S. military allows gay men and lesbians to serve in the military only if they keep quiet about their sexuality. There have been 13,000 gay and lesbian personnel discharged in the past 16 years under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Unbelievable, blatant homophobia.
Shocking you didn’t know this. But as a newly US citizen it’s ok. This is a product of the Clinton administration, a sort of compromise to allow gays in the military, but not really. What is even more shocking is Obama’s lack of response to gays in the military. Obama in January pledged to end the “don’t ask don’t tell” policies of the military. Now it seems that what Obama said and what he is going to do are two different things. I guess everyone becomes moderate once they enter the white house. Now it’s unclear, according to the WSJ, because of his avoidance in the Lt. Dan Choi case. We’ll see in coming months what he will be doing.
I don’t think people should be punished for being gay in the military, but I also don’t know how safe it is for individuals who are part of the military to come out of the closet. The military is a different world than one that most of us belong too. I have quite a few military friends and the law works differently inside those walls. I wish for every gay person the right to be safe at work. Unfortunately I do not think that safety can be promised at within the strict confines of military law.
