Don't Ask, Don't Tell

One of the hot topics in the military right now is the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is basically a way for homosexuals to serve in the military. Service members are instructed not to ask about a person's orientation or reveal their own orientation.

No big deal, right? Even I believe that what happens in one's own bedroom should stay there.

What are the consequences of such a policy? At first glance, it may seem that there are none, but should a service member be "outed" he or she may face discharge. A career could be terminated for no other reason than one's orientation. More than 13,000 service members have been discharged since the start of the policy. What do those numbers come out to? About 800 service members a year.

At a hearing of the panel, Mr. Wilson cited Pentagon data showing that from 1999 to 2008, 1.9 million people were discharged by the Department of Defense, including 8,300 because of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Mr. Wilson concluded that some 800 people were discharged under the law per year, which he termed “not a significant loss from an overall” Defense Department “manpower perspective.” (See link at the end of this blog.)

Some may believe that 800 service members a year isn't much to raise a fuss over and others may think that even 1 person kicked out for his or her orientation is an outrage.

Where do I fall? I'm glad you asked...and even if you didn't, I'll share anyway since this is my blog.

I am all for lifting this policy. If someone wants to serve his or her country, he or she should be able to do so (assuming he or she is qualified).

My problems with the arguments on keeping the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy:

1. "I don't want to know who is homosexual." Okay...then don't ask. Coming out as gay is a big deal for a lot of people. Lifting this policy is not going to force people to come out to the people they work with if they don't want to. Do you keep everyone up to date with your romantic life?

2. "I don't want to have a man/woman hitting on me, because now it's okay to be gay in the military." My BIGGEST problem with this argument is how arrogant the person who says this is. Why are you assuming that a gay man or woman would immediately flock to you and start hitting on you now that he or she can date someone? Men and women work side by side every day. Generally speaking, it is kept pretty professional. There are actual rules written in black and white that say people cannot date within a command or within a chain-of-command. So why would those rules not be applicable once this is repealed? Let's rephrase this question: "Women shouldn't be in the military. I don't want them coming over and hitting on me just because they can work next to me." Do you know what you do in that scenario, though? Decline. If they do it again it's called harrassment. Works for heterosexual military members as well. Interesting, huh?

3. "I would have to shower with them." Just want to point out there are already homosexuals in the military. And again with the arrogance. Who says anyone wants to see you naked anyway?

4. "If we repeal this and suddenly we have a lot of people saying they are gay, there is going to be a lot of hate crimes." That's sad that people make it seem that the solution to this is to NOT allow people to be open about their orientation. At one point, African Americans were not allowed in the military. At one point, women were not allowed in the military. How did that fare? People dread changes, but I believe that once something becomes "normal" it's "no big deal."

I think a military member should have the right to serve openly, so long as he or she keeps it professional at work, command functions and military installations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/us/politics/04military.html