Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Letters From Supporters

Time to scrap obsolete, oppressive ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy By Robert Schumacher Since 1992, the armed forces have lived with the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and since 1992, we have been asking gays to live a lie to serve in our Navy. Many Western military forces have scrapped anti-gay policies, replacing them with strict policies on sexual harassment. Why do we still have this outdated, discriminatory policy? To quote DoD Directive 1332.14 (from 1981, the policy prior to “don’t ask”): “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. The presence in the military environment of persons who engage in homosexual conduct or who, by their statements, demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual conduct, seriously impairs the accomplishment of the military mission. The presence of such members adversely affects the ability of the armed forces to maintain discipline, good order, and morale; to foster mutual trust and confidence among service members; to insure the integrity of the system of rank and command; to facilitate assignment and worldwide deployment of service members who frequently must live and work in close conditions affording minimal privacy; to recruit and retain members of the armed forces; to maintain the public acceptability of military service; and to prevent breaches of security.” I’ve wondered for years how the presence of a gay service member “seriously impairs the accomplishment of the military mission.” Does being gay prevent one from fighting fires, operating reactors, flying fighters or serving in a combat unit? Integrity of rank and command? We have been able to accept women in command of ships, and co-ed carriers, and minorities represented in all communities of our armed forces and every rank. Conditions affording minimal privacy? If you have issues with lack of privacy, you picked the wrong career. Public acceptability? It’s the 21st century. Breaches of security? I’ve read the stories of many former service members who were gay, and the breaches of security simply aren’t there. So, it’s down to “the ability of the armed forces to maintain discipline, good order, and morale; to foster mutual trust and confidence among service members.” Here’s where we get to the real reason for the military’s continued discrimination. It’s not homosexuals who are the problem, it’s our straight members — those who fear what they don’t understand, who bring with them their prejudices and misconceptions of homosexuality. The ones who harass, humiliate, intimidate, assault and discriminate against those who are doing nothing more (or less) than any of the rest of us. Homosexuals serve for the same reasons as the rest of us: for the college money, for the travel, for patriotism and service to our nation. Some came to the Navy because of the Sept. 11 attacks. Some simply needed a good job. Our service values honor, courage and commitment. Where is the honor in telling those who serve with us to live a lie? Where is the courage in refusing to accept change? Where is the commitment to equality, the commitment we’ve shown in breaking down barriers for women, minorities and even foreigners who now serve in our ranks? We have the ability to track our enemies from outer space, put missiles on target from under the ocean’s surface, to field the best-equipped and best-trained ground forces in the world. We certainly should be able to accept those who live a different sexual lifestyle and be able to realize that they are no different in any truly important way. The writer is an electronics technician first class stationed in Hawaii. -Jason Knight

09-26-07