Yet, in 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981. This order established equality in the armed forces for all men who served. Later, this was broadened to include female soldiers as well. Even with this executive order on the books however, gay men and women were routinely discriminated against while serving their country. Often times, the discrimination went as high as the President. Up until President Clinton took office in the early 1990's, the authority to ban gays and lesbians from serving in the military resided with the President. When President Clinton took office, he was set to reverse the ban, but during the compromise with opponents that resulted in 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', Congress took that power from the President and made it into law. This was unprecedented, and a huge setback for the gay rights movement.
Today, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is a law that is sporadically enforced at best. As often happens during war time, policies such as these are ignored. Yet, once the fighting subsides, they come to the forefront again. In the current war in Iraq, the first Marine injured has since come out as being a gay man. "It was like carrying this enormous secret that you want to share with someone," Retired Staff Sgt. Eric Fidelis Alva, 36, of San Antonio said in February of 2007. "I eventually formed close bonds with other Marines and did confide in them. They treated me with the same respect and dignity afterward. We were still buddies."
Most Western military forces have now removed policies excluding sexual minority members; of the 26 countries that participate militarily in NATO, more than 20 permit open lesbians, gays, or bisexuals to serve. This is supported by recent surveys which show an overwhelming support across the nation, and even in the armed forces, to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. In a recent poll, as many as 1 in 4 troops know of at least one gay or lesbian member serving with them, and many found out from that person directly (Source). Of those surveyed, the majority harbored no ill will or felt any apprehension against serving with those members. This speaks volumes. It also shows how disconnected the Brass is with their soldiers. While serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace stated, "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts." This was said in support of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', and it highlights just how far removed many of the leaders of the armed forces are. But, not all of the leaders feel this way. Retired Army general John Shalikashvili, who served as chairman after General Colin Powell, also wants it removed from the books.
Personally, I'd like to see 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' removed, and quickly. While I have faith that it will be repealed during President Obama's term, I won't hold my breath.
Reexamining "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Amid the turmoil of the Iraq war and the scandal at Walter Reed, the last thing the nation's top military officer should want to do is generate more controversy by renewing the debate over gays in the military. Yet that's just what Marine General Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has done in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, telling the paper that "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."
His comments have not surprisingly sparked a flurry of criticism from gay advocacy groups and lawmakers, but they are unlikely to change the status quo. Ultimately, many military officers believe, openly gay men and women will be allowed to serve in uniform, but it's just not going to happen very quickly. And for that, ironically, you can blame the most gay-friendly President ever: Bill Clinton.
Prior to Clinton taking office, the rule barring gays from serving was set solely by the President — and could be lifted by him, or her, as well. But once Clinton came in pledging to lift the ban, the opposition of his chairman of the Joint Chiefs — Colin Powell — and the hapless efforts by his first defense secretary, the late Les Aspin — ignited a firestorm on Capitol Hill. As the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise was hammered out, Congress took the extraordinary step of removing the policy from the President's hands and writing it into law.
"General Pace1s comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces," says C. Dixon Osburn, who heads the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay advocacy group in Washington (the 65,000 estimate is a UCLA study's estimate, the group said). "Our men and women in uniform make tremendous sacrifices for our country, and deserve General Pace's praise, not his condemnation. As a Marine and a military leader, General Pace knows that prejudice should not dictate policy. It is inappropriate for the Chairman to condemn those who serve our country because of his own personal bias. He should immediately apologize for his remarks." Tuesday afternoon, Pace stuck to his guns but backed away a bit from the morality angle. "I should have focused more on my support of the policy," he said in a statement, "and less on my personal moral views."
Three weeks ago, the first Marine seriously injured in Iraq declared he was gay and called for "don't ask, don't tell" to be tossed out. Retired Staff Sgt. Eric Fidelis Alva, 36, of San Antonio, lost his right leg to a land mine in the war's opening days. His wound got him a Purple Heart from President Bush, as well as a profile in People magazine and an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. "It was like carrying this enormous secret that you want to share with someone," he said last month. "I eventually formed close bonds with other Marines and did confide in them. They treated me with the same respect and dignity afterward. We were still buddies." A 2005 study by the Government Accountability Office showed that about 10,000 service personnel have been discharged since the policy took effect, including 54 Arabic specialists.
Alva is not alone. Senator Hillary Clinton, who was first lady when Congress wrote "don't ask, don't tell" into law, wants it repealed. Retired Army general John Shalikashvili, who served as chairman after Powell, also wants it removed from the books. But far more important is the view from the ranks. A recent poll by the Military Times newspapers showed that only 30 percent of respondents think openly gay people should be allowed to serve, compared to 59 percent who are opposed. Until those numbers are reversed, "don't ask, don't tell" won't change.
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