Challenges, Questions Remain for Patriots One Year After New DADT Rules
While “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) is still on the books and we await certification by President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen that will mark the beginning of the end of this law, it has been nearly a year since an important milestone on the road to repeal.
In March 2010, Secretary Gates approved new Pentagon rules for pursuing discharges. The goal of these changes was to make the implementation of DADT more “humane.” While many argue that this law is inherently inhumane, the changes have, in fact, made a big impact on the lives of LGBT service members. In addition to raising the standards for so-called “3rd party outings,” arguably, the most important change is that lawyers, psychotherapists, and clergy can no longer out lesbian, gay, or bisexual service members.
I can’t tell you how many LGB service members we’ve spoke to over the years who, like their straight counterparts, simply needed to talk to a therapist about the stresses and burdens of military service. These stresses, like those of their straight counterparts, inevitably included the impact of military service on their loved ones. But for LGB service members, this mental health resource was not an option.
As one client who returned from Iraq told me, she only thought she could get help for half of her problems. But for a year now, a tremendous burden has been lifted from the backs of LGB service members, who can finally get the much needed help they need.
Any service member who has questions about any of these new protections should call SLDN’s legal hotline to speak with an attorney.
03-15-11 By Aaron D. Tax, SLDN Legal Director |
7 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.servewithhonorAF on March 17, 2011 at 08.33 pm
@whatBS: You’re right, we’re going against nature, in regards to procreative needs. However, that doesn’t negate the fac that I didn’t choose who or what I am. Neither did you. I did not choose to be attracted to men, and more than you choose to be attracted to women. It doesn’t matter how much you say otherwise, choice just doesn’t enter into it. But, my father was and is a strong figure in my life, my mother was good without being overbearing, so you can’t use those “classic” ideas of what “turned” me into being gay. I wasn’t turned, or changed, or what have you. It just is, through no force known to anyone. I choose not to act on those emotions and feelings in public. We can choose our actions, not who were are.
No, my ex-wife didn’t devastate me. I’ve always been attracted to guys, as far back as puberty, but I tried to supress those feelings. I prayed quite a bit for that to happen.
I don’t expect Obama to win in 2012, and he won’t have my vote anyway. Getting rid of DADT is the only thing he did that I agree with. (For the record, I’m a registered republican.) I also agree that using how our ancestors were treated as “proof” of our need to be recompensed is a wrong ideology. However, there are people who are alive who were and are the downtrodden. I’m one of them now.
Effectively, you are saying that my sacrifices in service of our country are not wanted. That my blood means less than your blood, simply because I am forced to be attracted to someone different than you are attracted too. To me, blood is blood, if given freely in service to something of honor, and it’s about time that people start seeing that.
I don’t ask for special favors. I don’t ask to be treated any differently than before. All I ask is that sexual orientation not be considered as a mark against me. I’ll keep out of the public eye, and live quietly, because I choose to do that. And I’ll continue to serve with honor the country that I love.
whatBS in Ca on March 17, 2011 at 08.02 pm
I don’t know, why would you choose to kiss you man friend in front of other military members, leading to your discharge? See, you are very capable (and obviously more than willing), of making choices that will ruin your career that will make your life more difficult… I didn’t have to choose to be straight, it’s the way we are all made.. There is a reason you are built with your gentiles, and women are born with their gentiles. not only in humans, do males and females have different reproductive organs, but in just about all critters….So, with that being said, you are right, I don’t think there is a single man that has woke up in the morning and stated “you know, I’m gonna date only women”, because of the simple fact that there is no need to think that way. The option to be gay is different though, you are going against nature, you didn’t pop out of your mom and look at the doc and think to yourself, “damn, i don’t want milk from mom, i want to milk that man”. Over time, something happened to you, i don’t know what it was, or what flipped the switch, but there was something that made you think, “hmmm what i need is a man in my life”. maybe it was the lack of a father figure, or maybe he didn’t treat you the way you needed it, maybe you got rejected time after time after time after time by women and gave up, and moved onto a new target with the hopes of having better luck. ok enough on that first paragraph….
WAITTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!! so you dated women? you have not always known you were gay from the onset of puberty? which one of them broke your heart so bad, you gave up on women all together? come on, be honest with yourself and me… she devastated you huh?
Dont get ready to lace your boots on again anytime soon.. Thankfully you are right, changes do take time. This change, will not be close to being in effect until after the Islamic, good for nothing(unless your a minority or gay) leader we have is no longer in the office. he won’t win in 2012, and the next person in office, will see this and laugh as they tear it up and throw it in the trash can.
i don’t need apologies, although i appreciate your efforts, same goes for the sympathy..
Im Irish…. my ancestry had been “downtrodden” as well, im not looking for any special treatment.. what minorities don’t understand, is that just because your ancestors were persecuted, or were treated unfairly by the folks of their times, does mean i or anyone else owes you, or the black folks, or the Chinese, or the Mexicans, or any other special group a damn thing. Thats the same as putting me in jail for a crime my great grandfather committed, doesn’t make sense at all.. tell me the irish were not treated poorly for a long time, thats fine, but you obviously havent done your research.. there are plenty of “white” people that have rough social times as well… hell, the Chinese were slaves for the railroads, doing very dangerous work, i have yet to hear any of them as for reparations… just lazy people that want you to give them everything, rather than actually going out and working for it.. Please don’t bring up downtrodden minorities into this..
servewithhonorAF on March 17, 2011 at 03.30 pm
@whatBS: You know, it’s funny the sheer amount of people that say homosexuality is a “choice”. Do you think I’d choose to be gay, knowing how much harder it would make my life? Why the hell would I choose something that could ruin my career, no matter where I work (let alone the military)? Or could get me assaulted by homo-phobes? Trust me, I wouldn’t choose it if I could. Did you choose to be straight? I don’t know if a single guy that just woke up one day and said “you know, I’m gonna date only women” or “you know, i want to be gay”.
It’s not a choice, no matter what people say. We can choose our actions, not who we are. When DADT goes fully away, I’m just going to be happy that I won’t be kicked out for being gay if that information were to accidently come out. I won’t engage in PDA (even when dating women, I never agreed with that; just the way I was raised), or anything to “flaunt” myself in front of anyone else. I’m just happy that my service is now being considered on par with that of a straight servicemember. To be serving in an institution that helps ensure that rights are granted to all, while those same rights are being denied to me, is very disheartening. (But, unlike Manning, I serve with pride, and acknowledge that societial changes take time.)
So, whatBS, I’m sorry that your sensitivities are being hurt. Go tell that to the millions who have likewise been downtrodden over the years; all the minorities through the ages. I’m sure they’ll have some sympathy for you.
whatBS in Ca on March 16, 2011 at 08.39 pm
So if you are afforded the right to live comfortably and open, why then am i not afforded the same right? I as well as many of my fellow soldiers/airmen/seamen are not comfortable with openly gay people being in the military.. notice how it took a pres, who never served in the military to pass this one? good thing you guys have a pres that is only interested in helping out “special groups” of folks in this country rather than looking out for the majority.. I am not, never have been a religious person, so that’s not the reason i oppose this. Since you were in the army, you would know that PDA in uniform is not allowed as per the UCMJ, married folks, dating, or just sucking your mans ****... its not allowed.. and all those that do it, should be punished in the same manner. you seem a lil unstable, if you are getting upset over my opinion, which is my right, correct? so you can get upset over my thoughts, yet im not allowed to get upset over yours?being queer is not and never has been a born trait. It is a choice, for whatever reason.. maybe you stuck out with the ladies? maybe you didn’t have a strong male figure in your life growing up? whatever the reason, its a choice. just keep your choices out of our military, or if you do decide to bring it in to the service, keep your mouth shut about the silly choices you make.. Your Army? didn’t your army tell you they no longer wanted you? get a clue dude…
levis on March 16, 2011 at 05.53 pm
honey u are starting a wrong fire in here coz im one heck a fighter and u word are infuriating me like those west boro so called church guys, and to stop your circle of ignorance, we are all human been we all suppose to have the same right and duties, if u are afraid of gay guy or u live too deep in closet that u get one heck of a phobia then too bad coz what will happen if we gay and lesbian of the world complaint about str8 couples doing pda and our complaint were to go far…tell me then how would u feel? u buddy u are the one full of bs u are like the taliban, small narrow minded killers so u should join them so i can shoot u and get away with it HOO AH!! and get the heck out of my army
whatBS in Ca on March 16, 2011 at 03.22 pm
So, rather than keep a small minority of people quiet about there sexual orientation, we are now forcing the large majority of us military members to be uncomfortable. Not even allowed to complain out loud. Mark my words, first (openly)queer that watches me in my golden flow test, will have harrassment charges brought against them.. no different than me watching a lady take her test, which i would certainly be in trouble for….
PS… dont kiss in public.. my kids dont need to see that junk anyhow…I dont doubt you are a good soldier, and can hold your own but i dont want to be, nor do i want my family exposed to you kissing another man, or a woman kissing another woman..
levis on March 16, 2011 at 02.26 pm
mmm the problem is that many join the army while still in a relationship and that burden goes heavy over time especially for people such as i myself with an acute 6th sense for everything adding a little bit of discharge paranoia aint healthy..in any case for those looking to enlist but who are seeing some kiss those guys/girls good bye as they are burden, i made that mistake and now im a civi, which i why now i remain single and ill be re enlisting once the law finally come to be and ill be single for a few more years, it is simple the army or sex i pick the army HOO AH!! no other place in earth i rather be