Fit To Serve
Dateline: 05/16/97
The issue of gays/lesbians in the military seemed to take a back seat for a time. Folks were turning to the issue of Gay/Lesbian marriage and what with the continuously positive results in Hawaii this wasn't a horrible thing. But, Clinton's betrayal still hurts. It's clear that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a failure, and finally this issue is coming back to the forefront of the battle for rights.
I had heard the rumors, the stories, we had all heard that Clinton was going to back down on his pre-election promise to allow all able men and women, regardless of sexual orientation, serve openly and proudly in this nation's armed forces. I sat, as I'm sure so many others sat, waiting for the press conference to begin, waiting to hear what Clinton would say. Like so many others, I hoped that the rumors were not true, and Clinton would do what was right. Unfortunately, he did what was expedient, and that speech began and begat the joke that is "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as part of the codification of the ban by Congress.
Clinton acted as if this was a wonderful compromise. Gays and lesbians would be held to the same standard as all others in the military - but if they said they were homosexual, they would be presumed to engage in sodomy or other homosexual acts, a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Of course, sodomy as an illegal act is not unique to the armed forces, but I don't recall any recent (or not so recent) charges being brought against non-homosexuals for violations of any sodomy statute; military or otherwise. By the way, according to the military a homosexual act can be nothing more than holding hands with somebody of the same gender.
The rational for any ban is specious, at best.
Unit cohesion! People just don't want to be around gays and lesbians. Except, studies have established time and time again that people who know gays and lesbians are less homophobic and judgmental than those who do not. A recent study went a step further and established that disclosure of one's homosexuality plays an important part in changing attitudes.
The trend may finally be turning. Just this week the military agreed to review allegations of harassment against gay and lesbian service personnel.
Between you and me, it's a good thing. The military certainly has enough other problems without continuing to worry about gays and lesbians who want nothing more than to serve their country.
In Pride,
Deborah
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