Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Gay rights are a controversial subject in itself, however when you add the army into this subject, the nation is in for a sticky situation. Last month Judge Virginia A. Phillips of Federal District Court said that the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ law was unconstitutional.

The don’t ask, don’t tell law was implemented in 1993 when President Bill Clinton was in office. Designed to protect closet gays, don’t ask don’t tell or DADT was put in effect. While President Clinton thought he was doing the gay community a favor, there were a number of gay activists that thought otherwise saying that it is not okay to deny someone’s sexual orientation just for liability reasons. Furthermore, allegations that the military is willing to look past a future recruits sexual orientation when being able to recruit gets a little harder wrote Mark Thompson in a 2008 article titled ‘’Don’t ask Don’t tell’ turns 15’.

Two weeks ago Judge Phillips issued an injunction which required the military to stop enforcing the DADT law immediately. This is easier said than done however. President Barack Obama said “I agree with the basic principle that anybody who wants to serve in our armed forces and make sacrifices on our behalf, on behalf of our national security — anybody should be able to serve, and they shouldn’t have to lie about who they are in order to serve.” Obama also went on to say, “It has to be done in a way that is orderly, because we are involved in a war right now. But this is not a question of whether the policy will end. This policy will end, and it will end on my watch.” With Obama firmly taking a stand in for gay rights, it is without reasonable doubt that the law will disappear within due time.

When is a whole different ball park, the time frame is not yet set however. As stated, there is a way to go about changing the laws that have already been in effect for so long. With this being said, the law cannot be changed overnight without bumps along the road. Different steps must be taken so that everything goes smoothly.
Clifford L. Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, gives a list of rules that would have to be considered upon changing the law in the Obama Seeks A Stay on Don't Ask Don't Tell Ruling article by Charlie Savage including:

· Housing
· Benefits
· Re-accession
· Military equal opportunity
· Anti-harassment
· Standards of conduct
· Rights and obligations of the chaplain corps

Stanley goes on to say, “Amending these regulations would typically take several months”.
Taking the next step is in the hands of the government. Gay activists have been very vocal during this whole process and they are expected to keep up their voice to ‘speed along’ the momentum of getting the law changed. Being able to be oneself is a right that all American’s have. Whether they serve in the armed forces or not, hiding their identity should not be part of the description of being ones true self.

(other source used. picture from)