Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN
DADT and the ROTC
Americans join the military for a number of reasons. Some do it for fame and fortune, others want to see the world, and many, including this sailor, use the military to get an education and make something of themselves. Here, in his own words, is one young man's story of why he chose to join the ROTC and why as a gay man continues to serve in silence:
I chose to join the military because I need to be working for something beyond myself, working to defend freedom in the most direct way possible. Specifically, I joined the Navy’s ROTC program and have subsequently elected to switch to Marine Option because it will not only enable me to participate in the United States’ defense at home and abroad but to lead the Marines that similarly dedicate their lives after completing my degree at government expense. The path to become a Marine Officer will be mentally and physically challenging, only the best can lead the best. I strive to espouse the Marine Corps’ values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. However, the Department of Defense’s policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” says that I am only able to fulfill my oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” if I consciously hide that I am gay. My unit has presented GMT briefs about how the Navy champions diversity, echoed policies by Defense leadership about how they now understand the roles of families and the impact of servicemembers’ personal lives on their professional lives. Sitting silently, I agree with the logic of the arguments and the solutions proposed but wonder why gays and lesbians have been left out. DoD’s argument, of course, is that an openly homosexual soldier, sailor, airman, coastgaurdsman or Marine would so significantly undermine unit cohesion that combat readiness would be adversely affected and therefore he or she must lie. I have more confidence in the professionalism of the Americans who serve in the military than Congress and the Pentagon seem to. I am willing to remain in the closet for as long as necessary to continue serving my country, but I should not have to make the sacrifice of who I am in a nation which represents every freedom. Semper Fidelis. -Anonymous
Labels: ROTC
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The Sun Sets on Oz
Australia began withdrawing its troops from Iraq on Sunday. According to news accounts, “American troops would temporarily take over [Australian] responsibilities.” The question which must be asked is how? American resources are already stretched and the military is having difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified individuals to serve. Waivers are being granted to convicted felons, educational standards are being lowered, involuntary deployments are increasing and the U.S. government is spending more and more money paying sign-on bonuses to entice incoming recruits. Yet military commanders are expanding the responsibilities of American service personnel?
Despite the urgent need for solutions, one simple, common sense approach for increasing the number of qualified, non-violent enlistees is not even being considered because in 1993 Congress passed a law saying the military cannot accept the service of openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. With our resources stretched thin, we cannot continue to order commanders to fire personnel simply because of their sexual orientation. It is time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allow every patriotic American to serve our country.
As our allies continue leaving Iraq, and the burden of the war falls increasingly onto American shoulders, it is imperative that U.S. military commanders recommend to their civilian leadership that allowing gays to serve is a concrete first step towards assuring we continue to field the best trained military in the world.
Labels: foreign militaries
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Charles Moskos, 1934-2008
Charles Moskos, the self-described architect of the Congressional “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, passed away this weekend from prostate cancer, he was 74. A military sociologist at Northwestern University, Moskos rose to national prominence in 1993 by coining the phrase “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and attaching it to the congressional law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Charles Moskos. While we at SLDN disagreed with Moskos on the need and success of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” we shared with him a concern for the effects the law had on all of our service personnel, including lesbian and gay troops.
Since its implementation in 1993, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has resulted in the dismissal of more than 12,000 men and women from the armed forces. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), nearly 800 of those dismissed had skills deemed 'mission-critical' by the Department of Defense, including more than 300 language specialists. The cost to U.S. taxpayers for maintaining the ban is estimated at more than $363 million.
Moskos is survived by his wife Ilca and sons, Peter and Andrew.
-Victor Maldonado
06-03-08 Comment (1)
Pride in Kansas City
This past weekend, I returned to my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri to represent SLDN at the KC Pride festival. Joined by my partner, Karen Hermann and my colleague, Victor Maldonado, we had no idea how busy we would be – the morning’s newspaper was never pulled out of the bag and our camera caught only a few moments of our two days at Pride.
Our time was instead spent talking with over a thousand people from Kansas City and towns near and far in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa. They were eager to sign our petition to Congress calling for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Most of them knew about DADT, but some did not understand its impact. Too many, unfortunately, did.
We heard dozens of stories from individuals who had lost their chance to serve their country because of the ban on gays in the military. Others had friends or loved ones who had experienced the sting of discrimination mandated by this law. One woman told us about a friend who was kicked out after someone found letters from her partner in her locker. One couple stopped by to show support for their gay son, who was stationed abroad. We heard stories of relationships that had broken under the strain of silence. We met a woman who wanted so badly to serve her country that to stay in the service, she married and shrouded herself in dishonesty and depression.
Others were afraid to talk to us. Standing back looking at our booth, their fear and apprehension was evident. Victor or I were able to approach them and hand them wallet cards with information about their rights and how to reach SLDN if they ever needed help. Many current service members did not know about SLDN and were grateful to know that if they ever needed a lifeline, SLDN would be there.
We appreciated the help of our volunteers, but even with their help, the long lines of people, hungry for information and eager to enlist in the battle against DADT, kept us on our feet and talking until our throats were sore. Despite the heat, despite our soreness, we were deeply humbled by the nearly 1,000 people who signed SLDN’s petition and we were honored to be able to speak to so many people who served our nation proudly both before and after DADT.
Labels: Pride
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