The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was repealed Tuesday for the U.S. military. Gay citizens may now openly serve in the armed forces. They are protected by the same kinds of non-discrimination rules that protect women and people of differing ethnicity or religious beliefs. People have been vocal in their reactions to this controversial change. Here is what your fellow citizens are saying in responses to an informal poll when asked “How do you feel about the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy?”
“I’d say that it’s about time, but I’m not sure how really complete it is. Attitudes in the military aren’t going to change overnight, and I don’t think this will stop harassment and exclusion, though it may change the on-the-surface reasons behind harassment of LGBT members of the military. At least it can slowly change the prejudicial culture and give LGBT soldiers a legitimate and recognized cause for grievance if harassed.” — Kelli Melocick, California
“I think this is a major step in the right direction for American civil liberties. My only concern is that those military personnel who are openly homosexual will suffer some sort of internal hazing or bullying.” — Lori Carr, Texas
“It’s only a baby step but it’s one in the right direction. A few million more of these sorts of actions and who knows, we might, one day, be capable of treating each other all like the human beings we are.” — April Duclos, Massachusetts
“I had a friend whose male lover beat him up. The police were called and because it was considered domestic violence he was thrown out of the Navy. His life has never been the same. He is a young man who put his life on the line for all of us and because he chose the wrong guy he gets tossed out. He is now a severe drug addict and lives in a shelter. I just read in the paper this morning that a Navy officer is set up to get married to his partner in Vermont. I think that is amazing. I wish we could start living our lives and stop trying to tell others what to do with theirs. I say ‘woo hoo’ to the change and let’s all move forward.” — Carolyn Laning, Vermont
“In a country that is supposed to value freedom, the least we can do is ensure we have laws and policies that are less discriminatory, especially for those who are willing to die to protect our country.” — Tina Silk, Texas
“I feel ecstatic, delighted, encouraged, and yet utterly heartbroken all at the same time. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual soldiers and personnel will finally get to do what they’ve always done: honor America by saving lives, honor America through sacrificing their own lives. Yet there are thousands, millions of people like me who wanted to serve and couldn’t. In the 1980s I did not seek an appointment at West Point or the Naval Academy precisely because of the pre-DADT military culture. In the 1990s, DADT ruled out any possibility of my serving – and I wanted to a great deal. My father was a captain in the Air Force; my uncle served honorably in the Navy. I have a cousin who, after multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, counts two silver stars, two purple hearts, and an arm threaded through with a dozen grams of inoperable IED shrapnel as among his most prized possessions. I could not be a part of that family legacy. I could not serve my country. I was not good enough because of who and what I am. I love progress. I just hate how, sometimes in life, the best kinds of progress are the kinds you get to see as they leave you behind.” — Bradford Gray Telford, Texas
“I think it is about time that they have done away with DADT. When they were asking these men and women to risk their lives for our country they should never have been required to lie about who they were.” — Deborah Braconnier, Nevada
“I have to wonder if more hay is being made by those with either a big voice, or those who want to pretend to have a big voice. Now, make no mistake, there are those line GIs that are going to have a problem with an alternative lifestyle, but there are people that have a problem with blue eyes. That part is human nature. The other part is that we don’t have to like who we work with, but we still get the job done. To that end, the men and woman who are protecting our freedom are trained, disciplined professionals, who will not allow any personal feelings to cloud their duty to their country.” – Tyler Ryan, Florida
“I was disappointed when the Clinton administration instituted the policy. Clinton was elected in the first presidential election I was old enough to vote in. Because of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell I voted for someone else when he was up for re-election. Engaged to a Libertarian, I voted for the Libertarian candidate. In retrospect 20 years later, I don’t hate the policy as I did in college. It gave the nation a chance to get used to the idea of homosexual soldiers. It is high time to move to open acceptance and I’m happy we have done so.” — Ada Kerman, web designer, New Hampshire
Also written by Andrew
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