Equal Rights Under the Law

Breaking news: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal has just cleared its last congressional hurdle.

-Human Rights Campaign

On December 18, 2010, a life-changing vote was made to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell aka DADT. The discriminatory law dictates that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people cannot serve openly in the military. If a gay or lesbian soldier comes out or is "caught" they are faced with a dishonorable discharge. Over the past several years there have been outstanding, patriotic, brave men and women who were dishonorably discharged from their military position because of their sexual orientation.

While I am encouraged by the vote for civil rights, I fear that the repealing of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law is less about equal rights and more about gaining troops to fight "terrorism." In a time when military recruiting is low and the United States is at war, it is downright stupid that the military has been discharging servicemen and women for their orientation when all they wanted to do was fight for their country. At a time when many Americans and others around the world are opposed to the military presence and wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other operations unknown, those oppressed by DADT have been fighting for their military inclusion, so that they many openly protect this country.

Gay and lesbian soldiers have been under a muzzle, gagged and silent, so they could do the thing they loved, serve the United States military. What an irony that their fellow countrymen wouldn't stand with them, simply because of their sexual orientation. Senator John McCain and Republican leaders in the Senate created a filibuster to stop the U.S. from repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. As a former prisoner of war, I can't help but wonder if Senator McCain would have asked the sexual orientation of those involved in his rescue. It's doubtful, and that's because it just doesn't matter. Orientation has nothing to do with a willingness to serve and a patriotic heart.

I have never liked Senator McCain, a man who reportedly couldn't even acknowledge the Vietnamese man who pulled him from the river he landed in when his plane went down in Vietnam. A hero is not only built by survival. Some of the real heroes are the gay, lesbian, and bisexual soldiers who serve out of selflessness, who stifle themselves, who speak out against injustice, who serve to protect the speech of bullies that fling the word "faggot" and help nudge children into nooses. Anyone can say that gay isn't okay, but not everyone is authentic enough to stand up and lay down their life for that right.

There may be another vote in the next couple of days, but it's only a majority vote instead of 60 votes. After the bill is signed, the President, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will quickly implement a repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law. Hopefully when President Obama signs the bill to repeal DADT, the country can begin to mend a piece of broken. People deserve equality. There will be opposition, but at what cost? On the cusp of 2011, it's time to move forward.

The repeal is not official yet. Not until it is signed into law by President Obama. Today was the crucial vote, but the repeal isn't effective immediately. Until the Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal is completely implemented, service members are still at risk of discharge on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Photo Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U...

UPDATE - 17 months ago

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