Hot Topic (10/1): "Don't ask, don't tell" . . . repeal the ban?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Pentagon airs criticism of ‘don’t ask’

Journal article backs gay troops; May signal brass open to debate

WASHINGTON - An article in the Pentagon’s top scholarly journal calls in unambiguous terms for lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces, arguing that the military is essentially forcing thousands of gay men and women to lead dishonest lives in an organization that emphasizes integrity as a fundamental tenet.

The article in the upcoming issue of Joint Force Quarterly, which is published for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was written by an Air Force colonel who studied the issue for months while a student at the National Defense University in Washington and who concludes that having openly gay troops in the ranks will not hurt combat readiness.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of Pentagon leaders, but their appearance in a publication billed as the Joint Chiefs’ “flagship’’ security studies journal signals that the top brass now welcomes a debate in the military over repealing the 1993 law that requires gays to hide their sexual orientation, according to several longtime observers of the charged debate over gays in the military.

While decisions on which articles to publish are made by the journal’s editorial board, located at the defense university, a senior military official said yesterday that the office of Admiral Mike Mullen, the Joint Chiefs chairman who is the nation’s top military officer, reviewed the article before it was published.

“After a careful examination, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that unit cohesion will be negatively affected if homosexuals serve openly,’’ writes Colonel Om Prakash, who is now working in the office of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. “Based on this research, it is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.’’

The article, an advance copy of which was provided to the Globe, is likely to increase pressure on President Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to work with Congress to overturn the 1993 law commonly referred to as “don’t ask, don’t tell.’’

The law stipulates that gays in the military must keep their sexual orientation secret. In the 16 years it has been in effect, more than 12,500 troops have been discharged because their sexual orientation was revealed, either by themselves or others.

But Obama has tread very carefully since taking office, declining to provide a timeline on when the White House will actively lobby Congress and repeatedly saying that he will consult his military advisers before taking any action. The White House did not respond yesterday to requests for comment. Gates’s office reiterated that until Congress changes the law, the Pentagon will follow it.

* * *

Are you in favor of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy? 

Do you think the presence of openly gay service members would hurt "unit cohesion"? 

Should gay people be allowed to serve in the military without hiding their sexual orientation?  

[Mergath]

I served in the Army from '02 to '03 (discharged for medical reasons) and I just want to say that, from what I saw, the Army is pretty much a big orgy.  When you get that many people together, most of whom are single and in their twenties, you'd better have some serious birth control on hand because you end up wading in hormones for the duration.  In my experience, everyone was too busy worrying about their own sex lives to care if their same-sex roommate was checking out their ass or not.  I really don't see how being open about your sexual orientation is going to cause a problem, when, let's face it, after awhile everyone has a pretty good idea who's gay anyway.

[somuchlove4U]

I'm a military spouse and I kinda agree with what the previous poster said. Even though it's don't ask don't tell, you can still tell who is gay and who isn't. I don't think it matters, especially since we already have a lot of gay men and women in the military.

[Goodwoman614]

Repeal it already.  What a stupid charade, and a waste of tax payer dollars when ppl who WANT to serve their country are kicked out for no other reason than that they are "found out" to be gay. 

[cherry41089]

Quoting Goodwoman614:

Repeal it already.  What a stupid charade, and a waste of tax payer dollars when ppl who WANT to serve their country are kicked out for no other reason than that they are "found out" to be gay. 

I totally agree my hubby is in the US Coast Guard and u know which ones that r gay and those r just a few think of the ones that can hide it well just let them serve isn't this the land of dreams and rights

[home-sweet-home]

When my son was in boot camp this guy (who was straight) talked another guy into pretending to be gay to get out of the Marines. The drill instructor kind of knew it was fake, so he said, ok and made them call their parents and tell them.

My son knew he was straight or at least bi, he just wanted out of the Marines.

The problem with openly allowing it is the housing issue. (From what my son says). Women and men are not able to share baracks and if they are openly gay, they will have to have a baracks just for the gay men and one just for the gay women and then the straight women and then the straight men. If they don't know they can house them together. Does that make sense?

I am not saying I agree or disagree with it, I think it is more practicality than morality. They know who is.

[smithve]

Ok.  I don't agree with the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.  I worked for the department of defense for over 18 years and this was before the Don't Ask Don't  Tell Policy.  When a person was identified as being gay they was discharged from the service.  I wouldn't want to work around anyone that was gay.

Veronica

[Friday]

 Yes, repeal it. I was ticked at Clinton for implementing it and none too pleased that Obama hasn't done anything to change it.

If any service members have a problem serving with gays it's their problem.

[luckcharm]

Quoting home-sweet-home:

When my son was in boot camp this guy (who was straight) talked another guy into pretending to be gay to get out of the Marines. The drill instructor kind of knew it was fake, so he said, ok and made them call their parents and tell them.

My son knew he was straight or at least bi, he just wanted out of the Marines.

The problem with openly allowing it is the housing issue. (From what my son says). Women and men are not able to share baracks and if they are openly gay, they will have to have a baracks just for the gay men and one just for the gay women and then the straight women and then the straight men. If they don't know they can house them together. Does that make sense?

I am not saying I agree or disagree with it, I think it is more practicality than morality. They know who is.

Um... why?  Gay men and women are still men and women regardless of their sexual orientation.  Its not like they aren't already sleeping in the baracks with gay men and women.

[trippyhippy]

Why in the hell would you not want to work with someone that was gay?  Are you afraid or stupid enough to think it would rub off on you? 

Quoting smithve:

Ok.  I don't agree with the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.  I worked for the department of defense for over 18 years and this was before the Don't Ask Don't  Tell Policy.  When a person was identified as being gay they was discharged from the service.  I wouldn't want to work around anyone that was gay.

 

Veronica

[home-sweet-home]

Quoting luckcharm:

Quoting home-sweet-home:

When my son was in boot camp this guy (who was straight) talked another guy into pretending to be gay to get out of the Marines. The drill instructor kind of knew it was fake, so he said, ok and made them call their parents and tell them.

My son knew he was straight or at least bi, he just wanted out of the Marines.

The problem with openly allowing it is the housing issue. (From what my son says). Women and men are not able to share baracks and if they are openly gay, they will have to have a baracks just for the gay men and one just for the gay women and then the straight women and then the straight men. If they don't know they can house them together. Does that make sense?

I am not saying I agree or disagree with it, I think it is more practicality than morality. They know who is.

Um... why?  Gay men and women are still men and women regardless of their sexual orientation.  Its not like they aren't already sleeping in the baracks with gay men and women.

Because they do not KNOW they are. So they don't have to deal with it.  They have to keep them separate for the same reason they have to keep the women and men separate.  They shower and change and there is some modesty between the sexes. It would be a major hassel to have to separate them out and if they didn't then a straight guy or woman could complain about the showering etc. Like if a woman was forced to shower with a man. If a woman is forced to shower with a gay woman, it would be the same thing.