Shift on "Don't Ask" Reflects Cultural Sea Change

By: Jan Crawford
Topics: Crossroads

(AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

When President Obama's top military officials tell the Senate that the administration is going to be more tolerant of gays in the military, they're reflecting a huge cultural sea change on the issue in this country, and especially among a younger generation of soldiers and officers.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen (at left) are announcing today that the military will no longer pursue allegations from third parties that a service member is gay. And they're say they're going to begin the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" so that gays can serve openly in the military.

Mr. Obama said in last week's State of the Union address that he would end "don't ask, don't tell," the law, as he put it, that "denies gay Americans the right to serve in the country they love because of who they are." (Watch the video.)

The reaction from a public focused on important issues like jobs and the economy was decidedly ho-hum. There were no protests. No outrage.

That's because this is not 1993, when President Clinton got so bogged down in the issue of gays in the military that it derailed much of his domestic policy initiatives in his first year in the White House. After 17 years, we're dealing with an entirely different group of soldiers and officers -- those that came of age in a time when being gay is no big deal.

A Personal Look at "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

These soldiers and officers knew people or had friends who were open about their sexual orientation in high school, yet all of a sudden, they go into the military and learn they can't tell anybody or ask or talk about it, under the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell."

One of the soldiers I talked to about this —- he's straight and served in Iraq alongside a gay service member —- said the policy demands people pretend they're something they're not. And that's not only dishonest, he said, but also weird and, well, ridiculous.

(AP)

Retired Gen. Colin Powell recognized as much, when he said last year on CNN that he thought that the 1993 policy was "correct for the time," but that "16 years have now gone by, and I think a lot has changed with respect to attitudes within our country, and therefore I think this is a policy and a law that should be reviewed."

And this next generation of officers feels much the same. Many believe say privately they think it's a huge waste of time to investigate rumors that a service member is gay, and that the much bigger problem, from a command perspective, is when male and female soldiers have affairs or physical relationships. These officers say the better approach is to just police the conduct —- no physical relationships, whether you're straight or gay -— and leave it at that.

Outside the military, polls also reflect this cultural shift among the American people. In 1993, 52 percent of Americans opposed gays in the military. Last year, only 17 percent opposed it.

That's why this issue is not a big political risk for Barack Obama, certainly not like it was Bill Clinton. Times have changed. And the military can reflect that.

Jan Crawford
Jan Crawford is CBS News' political correspondent.
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by magnumdr July 14, 2011 10:25 AM EDT: They are not "gays", these people choose to be this way and they should take responsibality for their choices in life!; Reply to this comment

by nativeamericancitizen June 27, 2011 4:22 AM EDT

God's laws are unchanging and non evolving, and apply to all people in all times! We don't operate our society, government, military etc. according to referendums, public opinion polls, what society thinks is normal/common or mob rule. If man is always to be the standard for what is right, wrong, just and holy, we in America are going to continue to plunge into darkness. And we will live in an age where every sin can be justified and rationlized, if we just come up with the right sounding words and have a great snake oil salesman like Obama to pitch it! If we don't get back on the God standard, we are all doomed as a Country and a civilization. Man was the measure of all things under Pol Pot, Hitler, Mao, Stalin, etc. and they all paved a road to hell too. The song says, "we will keep our honor clean." Mr. Mullen, Mr. Gates, Mr. Powell etc., homosexuality is neither honorable or clean! You have made a pact with Satan, you have cursed our military; repent, reverse or you will burn in hell for eternity, saith the Lord!

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by AttentionDeficit June 28, 2011 4:55 PM EDT: If you want to live in a theocracy, don't let the door hit you in the arse. Otherwise, we don't fashion our government around bronze age mythology. Deal with it, nativeamericanbigot


by Barnesc95 March 7, 2011 4:02 PM EST: After reviewing the article on the Shift of don't ask don't tell, I feel a need to comment. As a current Major in the U.S. army, I believe to keep everything fair; we should allow gays in the military and allow them to be open with it to a certain degree. I am not fond of the idea but if that is the way the military is going, then I must go with it. Like it was mentioned in this article, no one should be publicly displaying affection - gay or straight. Service members sharing a room with those who are gay will need to make provisions for that. Also, community showers will need provisions as well.

I can understand the concerns of gay service members not given the opportunity to openly serve their country. I can also understand the concerns of non gay service members. Things will become interesting for chaplains who are truly following the Bible, to be able to work with and teach gay relationships/partnerships.

I am interested in knowing how exactly this shift is going to take place. Will it be optional to choose if you share accommodations with someone gay though we won't be able to discriminate against gays in the military? Will it be optional for Chaplains to minister to gays in the military? Will shower stalls be made more private where we can get dressed and undressed covered up so no one has to be concerned with whether or not someone is staring at them naked?

The next issue we may have to deal more with is sexual harassment not only will it come from the opposite sex, now among the same sex too. It will be pretty interesting to see how this all plays out. I will be watching.; Reply to this comment


by crazyname January 21, 2011 2:37 PM EST: What makes most of us non-gay people mad is the fact that gays don't want equal rights, they want more because they are gay. If they are just like everybody else, they don't need special treatment. If they are wanting to enter the military, join it and don't try to change it with gay demands. You know what you are getting into when you enlist, and don't look for anything else. Keep the gay activities away from military facilities and leave it at home.; Reply to this comment


by babooph April 17, 2010 8:30 PM EDT: Some "original" military formations were "gay'& many gays have no children-fitting well with a military career...; Reply to this comment


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by chatmandu7451 March 14, 2010 4:18 PM EDT

Will the military have to accept gay marriage and pay benefits? Will the military have to pay for trans-gender surgery? Will the rights and privacy be afforded to straight service members? How will the military treat a man who thinks he is a woman or how will it treat a woman who thinks she is a man? Will the military have to give special treatment to a protected class of service members when it comes to promotion or demotion like in the civilian sector? Just a few questions that must be answered.

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by Bill_USAF August 25, 2010 5:38 AM EDT: These are actually good questions. Yes, if gay marriage is federally accepted they will be afforded the same rights. No, the military will not pay for gender-change surgery. This is an elective procedure. When we enlist, we enlist as male or female. No, special treatment will not be granted. We have the UCMJ as a governing body. Promotions are based on test scores and evaluations, along with command approval.

by SJames6621 March 2, 2010 11:45 PM EST

Yesterday i learned that the partner of a gay man I know was a highly trained Nuclear submarine officer. The Gov spent $500,000 on his training, and he served with distinction for 6 years.

But finally decided that he was tired of lying every weekend they were in port of who he was seeing, and what he was doing. So he outed himself and was honorably discharged.

This is utterly stupid. There were no problem with him living in the cramped quarters of a sub, where every square inch of space is valued.

And I can't blame him for leaving the service. "An officer will not lie, cheat, or steal" is a basic part of the requirements for command. I know, Iwas a LT back in the 60s. And he finally refused to compromise his integrity to a hate filled law based on the religious beliefs of people whose god seems to be named Hatred, or Satan, take your choice.

But I am glad in another way. He met Mikey, he lives with Mikey, and I and my (f) wife will be attending his wedding later this year. Along with Mikey's parents who love him unconditionally,just as he is.

While some of our citizens can only wallow in a cesspool of hatred. Hardly different except in degree, then the people who gave us 9/!!

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by 1renegade May 15, 2010 1:08 PM EDT: Here is my problem with this issue. I don't care if you're gay. I'm tired of these people acting like spoiled children because most people will tolerate but not accept their chosen lifestyle. The DADT is the best thing for them. But, like most gays they can't keep their mouths shut and live their life. The person you spoke of did not have to tell anyone a thing about is personal life. I suspect he opened his mouth. This kind of behavior is why our military has been weakened. After 25 years(1975-2000) in the military I have seen this many times. I don't want to know if someone is gay, just want to know can they do the job!

Ret. MGySgt U.S.M.C.


by smitvict May 21, 2010 4:48 PM EDT: You really can tell people's ages by their comments (which is the point of this article). The words of the retired Sgt below, "chosen lifestyle". That's the same inability to accept change that you saw when the military was integrated, or when women were allowed in. Change is hard and particularly harder for older folks from another generation. 25 years ago, gays hid in the closet. Not anymore.


by SJames6621 March 2, 2010 11:45 PM EST: Yesterday i learned that the partner of a gay man I know was a highly trained Nuclear submarine officer. The Gov spent $500,000 on his training, and he served with distinction for 6 years.

But finally decided that he was tired of lying every weekend they were in port of who he was seeing, and what he was doing. So he outed himself and was honorably discharged.

This is utterly stupid. There were no problem with him living in the cramped quarters of a sub, where every square inch of space is valued.

And I can't blame him for leaving the service. "An officer will not lie, cheat, or steal" is a basic part of the requirements for command. I know, Iwas a LT back in the 60s. And he finally refused to compromise his integrity to a hate filled law based on the religious beliefs of people whose god seems to be named Hatred, or Satan, take your choice.

But I am glad in another way. He met Mikey, he lives with Mikey, and I and my (f) wife will be attending his wedding later this year. Along with Mikey's parents who love him unconditionally,just as he is.

While some of our citizens can only wallow in a cesspool of hatred. Hardly different except in degree, then the people who gave us 9/!!; Reply to this comment


by IzThatSoBad February 15, 2010 5:33 PM EST: an army of leathermen should drive across afghanistan raping the taliban who must kill themselves because they were dishonored...; Reply to this comment