by Michael Easter

Created on: April 26, 2009

With Hillary Clinton serving as Secretary of State and President Obama's hints that he would like to change the military's policy, Defense Secretary Gates was no doubt hard pressed on the issue of the government's policy concerning homosexuals serving in the military. To understand why changes have not been implemented already, it's important to understand both sides of the issues and the concerns there are for people who serve.

I don't think many people would say that they don't think gays should be allowed to serve their country. Most people in the United States today, I believe, are quite tolerant of homosexuals, and why shouldn't they be allowed to serve like any other citizen of the U.S.? There is nothing about a homosexual that makes them incapable of picking up arms; there's nothing that prevents them from marching or wearing a uniform. Why, then, does the military currently have a policy preventing open homosexuals from serving in uniform?

The military's current policy is the so called "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy. That is, individuals who join, and those who currently serve, may not (in most situations) be asked their sexual preference. Only commanders who believe, through a statement, known act, or marriage, that an individual may be homosexual may take action toward that person.

There are several problems that prevent this policy from changing and Defense Secretary Gates can not simply wave his hands and make those issues disappear simply to appease the new powers that be in the White House. Some of these issues actually are simple and, perhaps, a bit prejudiced in nature, but some others are more complicated they seem.

Members of the United States military are expected to be held to a certain level of discipline and within certain values that not all people necessarily agree with. Members of the Armed Services are subject to additional laws besides the ones of the state or country they reside in; this is called the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The UCMJ details what the military considers appropriate sexual conduct. Sodomy laws in the military, for example, mirror those of most states, but may be a bit more detailed than some of the states. The military basically outlaws anything except Male/Female missionary position sex. Oral sex and anal sex are both considered sodomy. This isn't anything new, Oklahoma, for example, outlaws the same activities that the Military does. The difference is in the prosecution. No District Attorney in the civilian

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