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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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New military act could end Don't Ask, Don't Tell |
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| New military act could end Don't Ask, Don't Tell | ||
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by Shaun Knittel -
Special to the SGN Early last week, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) introduced legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The proposed legislation, coined The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, is aimed to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the military with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Supporters of the repeal want Congress to eliminate the policy with the 2010 defense authorization bill in April of this year. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the current Department of Defense (DoD) policy regarding Gay and Lesbian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines serving on active duty, reserve status, and in the National Guard. The 1993 law, Section 654, Title 10, more commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," prohibits anyone who demonstrates a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts from serving in the armed forces of the United States because it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards or morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion. The law prohibits any homosexual or Bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation of from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Although the law was a compromise between President Bill Clinton and Congress over 12,500 servicemembers have been discharged since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was imposed 15 years ago. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a non-profit legal services and policy watchdog organization dedicated to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," each year an estimated 3,000 men and women who want to enlist or re-enlist decide not to because of the law. "This law has failed our country and our military for 15 years," said Tauscher in a March 3 Servicemembers Legal Defense Network press release. "It is no longer a question of if we will change this law - it's a question of when." Opponents of the new bill say the timing is wrong. With the economy in shambles and standardized health care on the table, President Barack Obama may not be able to back such legislation in his first 100 days in office. Within the LGBT community the current fight is equality through marriage, battling "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would be like fighting a war on two fronts - a costly battle that may see both initiatives fail. Still, some Gay rights activists contend the situation will be different for Obama because the president has reached out to the military in ways that Bill Clinton never did. Early in his 2008 campaign for the presidency, Obama promised the LGBT community that he would fight to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Later in the campaign, Obama made allies within the higher echelons of the military when he said he would work with the service chiefs in order to reevaluate the policy - a move that may one day prove fruitful for the president when negotiating with the DoD officials. Pentagon officials are ready, if asked, to respond to the proposed bill by Congresswoman Tauscher. "If asked by the president, we [DoD] will conduct an assessment and give our advice on the impact of a potential change to this law could be," said Cynthis Smith, a spokesperson for the DoD and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is law. It is a political decision. If the law changes, we will comply with the law." Anyone separated from the military has the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the DoD, or in the private sector said Smith. However, if the policy is changed, then the DoD has no choice but to comply. "We expect all service members to be treated with dignity and respect all the time," said Smith. Still, Tauscher and supporters of the bill do not want members of the LGBT community to have to choose between serving their country in the military or civilian employment. Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and replacing it with the Military Readiness Enhancement Act would allow all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, to enlist. "The current policy harms military readiness and discriminates against patriotic young men and woman who want to serve their country," said Tauscher. "It's time for Congress to right this wrong. |
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