Educating the White Guys
Just to clarify: This is NOT President Clinton signing the executive order about gays in the military . . . because "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" isn't an executive order! It's a Congressional law.
This, however, seems to be a point that still eludes some people . . . even those who are on our side!
When my daily DiversityInc email message popped up this afternoon, I was excited to see the magazine's Ask a White Guy column dealing with the issue of gays in the military . A reader wrote in to say, "As an active-duty member, there are items in the magazine that I personally can't do, such as condone or support gay/lesbian lifestyle. We are still "don't ask, don't tell" ... There are many good articles regarding race, gender and ethnicity, but I just can't support the other."
The White Guy columnist did a good job for the most part, emphasizing that military - and political - attitudes are changing. But his opening remark was off the mark.
"The 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is an executive order from President Clinton's administration," he said.
Actually, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" marked the first time Congress codified the military's ban on gays into law. That's why the law cannot be repealed by executive order, either. It requires an act of Congress (followed by a Presidential signature) to get rid of the ban once and for all.
We appreciate Diversity's on-going, positive coverage of LGBT issues, but it's important for everyone to know the facts about how the ban became law . . . and how it can be toppled, too.
- Steve RallsLabels: in the news
-----08-17-07
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