"Don't ask, don't tell" consigned to history
WASHINGTON - After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks.
Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
Some in Congress still oppose the change, but top Pentagon leaders have certified that it will not undermine the military's ability to recruit or to fight wars.
The Army was distributing a business-as-usual statement Tuesday saying simply, "The law is repealed," and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.
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Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, scheduled a Pentagon news conference for later Tuesday to field questions about the repeal. And a bipartisan group of congressional supporters of allowing openly gay service planned a news conference on Capitol Hill.
Gay advocacy groups planned a series of celebrations across the country.
CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports President Bill Clinton first tried to repeal the ban on gays, but ran into the objections of then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Colin Powell. A generation later, President Obama had the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on his side. Mullen was the decisive voice calling for policy's repeal.
Pentagon press secretary George Little said Monday that the military is adequately prepared for the end of the current policy, commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell," under which gays can serve as long as they don't openly acknowledge their sexual orientation and commanders are not allowed to ask.
"No one should be left with the impression that we are unprepared. We are prepared for repeal," Little said.
Last week, the Pentagon said 97 percent of the military has undergone training in the new law.
For weeks the military services have accepted applications from openly gay recruits, while waiting for repeal to take effect before processing the applications.
With the lifting of the ban, the Defense Department will publish revised regulations to reflect the new law allowing gays to serve openly. The revisions, such as eliminating references to banned homosexual service, are in line with policy guidance that was issued by top Pentagon officials in January, after Obama signed the legislation that did away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
The lifting of the 18-year-old ban also brings a halt to all pending investigations, discharges and other administrative proceedings that were begun under the law passed during Clinton's administration.
Existing standards of personal conduct, such as those pertaining to public displays of affection, will continue regardless of sexual orientation.
There also will be no immediate changes to eligibility standards for military benefits. All service members already are entitled to certain benefits and entitlements, such as designating a partner as one's life insurance beneficiary or as designated caregiver in the Wounded Warrior program.
Gay marriage is one of the thornier issues. An initial move by the Navy earlier this year to train chaplains about same-sex civil unions in states where they are legal was halted after more than five dozen lawmakers objected. The Pentagon is reviewing the issue.
Service members who were discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" law will be allowed to re-enlist, but their applications will not be given priority over those of any others with prior military experience who are seeking to re-enlist.
Some in Congress remain opposed to repeal, arguing that it may undermine order and discipline.
A leading advocate, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, said Monday the repeal is overdue.
"Our nation will finally close the door on a fundamental unfairness for gays and lesbians, and indeed affirm equality for all Americans," the California Democrat said.
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That was the year I started teaching in LAUSD. It was also the year of the Briggs Amendment. Promoted by the Florida Orange Juice Queen, Anita Bryant, the Briggs Amendment banned homosexuals from the classroom. If passed, I would have lost my job.
The Briggs Amendment failed. Interestingly enough a large number of NO votes came from inner city precincts, which had a history of homophobia.
As a classroom teacher, I did not abide by DADT. My attitude was strictly MYOGDB. I was not interested in marching in some fool parade or acting as the Token Gay. My only concern was doing my job to the best of my abilities. In spite of the endemic homophobia that surrounded me, I actually had a lot more in common with people of the local community than I did with the denizens of the bars in West Hollywood, which to my mind seemed like Another Planet.
I retired in 2007 with my share of kudos, awards, plaudits, and certificates for service above and beyond the call of duty. When I think of the repeal of DADT, I think of the rejection of the Briggs Amendment. The repeal of DADT is NOT a victory of the gay and lesbian community. It's a victory for us all.
We'll see how long this post even lasts...
Why are you a 'former Marine Sgt'? I thought it was: Once a marine always a marine?
Did you see the cover of this week's Marine Times? Headline:
"We are Gay, get over it!"
"...it is about how privacy of the majority of the military population will now be affected by this small deviant population segment."
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No more or less than it has been for the past 200+ years...
As long as we keep females and this mess out of the foxholes!
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Any thoughts on "spooning"????
May have a few "electrods" laying around from Korea.....
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Ummmmm...very interesting. Mort...any thoughts on electrods vice thumb scews???
My daughter showering with males at the high school?
Are you serious? Only an idiot would want that!
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Got news for you Mort...she's going to be doing a lot worse things with males..and/or maybe females...don't rule that out.
So, do we get rid of all male female separation in society?
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Seems we're moving in that direction. Is it such a big deal!?!? America's one of the few "modern" nations that has a "issue" with sexuality...