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Army Times: Congress debates ‘don’t ask’

The first congressional hearing on the so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” law since its enactment 15 years ago was held Thursday, with former members of the military testifying on both sides of the issue.

Repealing the ban on military service by openly gay people would create a “sexualized atmosphere,” result in “forced co-habitation” and punish straight service members who do not want to be exposed to the gay lifestyle, Elaine Donnelly, a longtime outspoken opponent of gays in the military, told Congress Thursday.

But proponents of a change in the law say military service is a civil right, would not be a detriment to unit cohesion and removing those who admit their sexual orientation robs a war-strained military of skilled personnel.

At the hearing, the least emotional argument against repealing the ban was voiced by a former Army Green Beret.

“I think the timing is bad,” retired Sgt. Maj. Brian Jones told the House Armed Services personnel panel, referring to the ongoing Middle East wars. “I believe we could be sitting here discussing things that are a whole lot more important. ... You have to pick the right change for the right time.”

That drew a quick response from Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., sponsor of a bill that would replace the current law with one of nondiscrimination. She told Jones that the committee looks at a wide variety of military issues, “and we’re good multitaskers.”

“After 15 years of not talking about this, I certainly don’t think this is a waste of time,” Tauscher said. “I do believe that this is the last frontier of civil rights opportunities we have in this country. We have figured out how to deal with racial integration, gender integration, and … this is the last frontier.”

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., agreed, nodding toward former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, a gay wounded Iraq war veteran who testified in favor of repealing the current law.

“He lost his leg,” Shays said. “He’ll never have his leg back. And he risked his life for everyone in this room. And we’re asking why we’re having this hearing? We know that gays have served in every conflict. They’ve served in every war. And we know that gays have given their lives for everyone in this room. So ... that’s why we’re having this hearing.”

Both sides used poll results to back their arguments. Donnelly, head of the Center for Military Readiness, an independent public policy group that focuses on military personnel issues and a longtime opponent of gays in the military, said the annual Military Times poll of service members consistently shows that between 57 percent and 59 percent of service members oppose allowing gays to serve openly in uniform.

Others noted a recent Washington Post-ABC poll showing that 75 percent of the general public said gays who disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve.

Democrats called the hearing in hopes that their presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who favors repealing the law, will win the upcoming election.

But even under a President Obama, proponents of repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” will need 218 votes in the House to pass a bill repealing the ban, and 60 votes in the Senate to stop a filibuster, neither of which is assured.

And if Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the Republican candidate for president, is elected and vetoes such a bill, a two-thirds majority in each chamber of Congress would be needed to override the veto — an even taller order.

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