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Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell” Criticized
By Melodie N. Martin
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
January 28, 2009
More than 15 years after the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy came about, opponents hope the new presidential administration will lift the federal ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
During a panel discussion at the University of Richmond School of Law last night, an audience of about 40 people heard arguments for repealing the ban. The program was sponsored by the law school's Equality Alliance Board.
Aaron Tax, managing attorney for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said that the policy has shortcomings and cited unforeseen consequences it has had on the lives of people affected by it. According to his nonprofit organization, more than 12,500 men and women have been discharged because of their sexual orientation, since the policy took effect. It is based on legislation passed by Congress in 1993.
"When people say to you 'It's not a big deal. Don't come to work and tell people you're gay,' it's way beyond that. It's beyond what anyone imagines the law is really about," Tax said.
He cited examples in which the military has been inconsistent with enforcing the law and said U.S. military personnel have not been adversely affected by working with openly gay people from other countries' militaries or federal agencies such as the CIA.
"What we like to tell people is that they should give more credit and recognize our troops are professional enough to deal with openly gay people," Tax said. "Once they get to know people who are openly gay, they'll realize that it really isn't a big issue."
Tracy Thorne-Begland, a deputy commonwealth's attorney in the city of Richmond, detailed his experience of being discharged from the Navy after revealing he is gay during an interview on ABC's "Nightline" in 1992.
"Why this policy is so devastating is not because of the effect it has had on people like me, it's the dreams of younger people, more disadvantaged people, whose only way out of the ghetto in a city like Richmond, New York or Chicago or the backwoods of West Virginia is the armed forces," Thorne-Begland said.
He added that discrimination of any minority group by a nation has a broader impact.
"A gay kid growing up in this country who sees that it's OK for the military to discriminate against gay and lesbian adults is left with the impression that there is something wrong with him or her," Thorne-Begland said.
