by Stephen Kramer

Created on: May 17, 2009

SOURCE: http://www.bevoost.com/?p=514

The recent firing of Arabic linguist, Dan Choi, from the military for being openly gay thrusts the 'don't ask, don't tell' (DADT) policy back into the spotlight. The Obama administration is considering a repeal of the policy.

DADT was approved in 1993 by Bill Clinton as a compromise to his campaign promise to allow all citizens to serve openly in the military, regardless of sexual orientation. Let's take a look at the main points of the policy. The 'don't tell' half prohibits service members to disclose and talk about sexual orientation. The 'don't ask' half disallows superiors to initiate an investigation into a service member's sexual orientation. Prior to DADT, there was a complete ban of those who were not heterosexual.

Interestingly, the DADT policy currently provides a way out for conscientious objectors to war - civilians and service member alike - and for service members who desire to leave the military prematurely for alternative reasons. A DADT policy repeal would certainly close this loophole. Some civil liberties groups might even argue against the repeal because it does close this loophole, thereby obstructing these citizens' right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

If the policy is repealed, it offers a win-win solution to both sides of the political aisle. For conservatives concerned about trends in shrinking military, diminishing recruiting numbers and lower quality of recruits, the repeal would help keep service members in the military, broaden the recruit pool, and strengthen the quality of recruits. For liberals concerned about equal rights, the repeal would represent a win in breaking down homophobic barriers and allow the opportunity to demonstrate that a gay-inclusive military would not create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.

A repeal of the DADT policy will also bring us closer in line with other countries who allow gays to serve openly in the military - Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Countries that ban homosexuals to serve in the military include: Brazil, Cuba, Greece, Iran, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela and Yemen. Notice that two of Bush's three so-called 'axis of evil' are among the latter.

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