Obama still dragging his feet on DADT
The Obama administration has held “preliminary discussions” with Pentagon leaders about lifting the ban on open military service by gays and lesbians but is not rushing into a legislative battle to repeal the Clinton-era policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” retired Marine Gen. James Jones said May 10.
Jones, Obama’s national security adviser, appearing on the ABC News program “This Week,” would not predict the outcome of the hotly contested policy issue, and even supporters of repeal in the House of Representatives are warning they would be unlikely to prevail in a vote on the issue if one was held today, which is part of the reason why the administration has been moving slowly and trying to build more momentum for change.
In a personal note sent to former Army 2nd Lt. Sandy Tsao, discharged earlier this year after announcing she was a lesbian, Obama said he still plans to push for change.
“It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy,” Obama said in the undated, handwritten note to Tsao, a copy of which was posted on www.glaadblog.org, the Web site of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination.
“Although it will take some time to complete (partly because it needs congressional action) I intend to fulfill my commitment,” Obama said in the note. (Source-Air Force Times)
I know the LGBT community is focused on the gay marriage issue these days, and I know that the community does not always feel that the military is a suitable place for LGBT people to be. Still, this is an issue which requires the vocal and visible input of every community member.
Thousands of us have served honorably throughout history. We have been on the front lines and we’ve served in support. We’ve flown planes and treated the wounded. We’ve been held prisoner and we’ve been in foxholes.
The fear-mongering that the conservative right is engaged in is transparently nonsensical. “They’ll never be able to restrain themselves in the barracks“. Then why aren’t you equally opposed to gays in school or your local health club? Because you know that you’re spreading lies. We have “restrained” ourselves for years, in many venues, and most likely you never even knew the guy or gal changing clothes next to you was gay. If sexual attraction can’t be controlled or suppressed when necessary, why do we allow men to be gynecologists?
Those opposed to gays serving in the military, as well as those intent on keeping the dishonest DADT policy in force, have no reasonable objections, provide no research, can cite no studies supporting their position. Their only interest is in spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt. They ignore the hundreds of years of honorable service already performed by members of the LGBT community.
They get away with this because too few of us veterans are willing to speak up and openly confirm our service. We allow them to make it appear this is a small matter concerning only a few members of the military. We have given them the opportunity to parade their lies as reality.
If you are a LGBT veteran of the U.S. military, let people know. Talk about it, blog about it, write your congress person about it. Hell, write Obama and let him know that this DADT policy is absurd. It’s unworkable and an insult to every proud military person who happens to be gay. It needs to be done away with and LGBT folks need to be allowed to serve openly and honestly. It wasn’t easy for Truman to integrate the military, yet now we think nothing of whites and blacks serving together in the same units defending this nation formed on the premise of e pluribus unam, out of many, one. We are one, we are all American citizens. Obama needs to do what is right, not always what is popular.