How do you feel about Don't Ask Don't Tell?

Are you glad it's been repealed? Should it be reinstated?

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Permalink Reply by cooper on October 31, 2010 at 12:17pm

Of course it shouldn't be reinstated.

My understanding is that there is a moratorium on the discharge of openly gay service members (
the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to repeal the policy), but President Barack Obama and Gates agreed to a compromise that would prevent the repeal from taking effect until the completion of a review to determine what effects the repeal would have on military effectiveness, soldier retention and family readiness.

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Permalink Reply by Freeman Dyson on October 31, 2010 at 4:44pm

Translation: it is a hot potato (or as Coop would say, hot "potatoe". couldnt resist) right before an election and Obama is going back on another campaign promise to try and save the Democrats from the Republican avalanche that will happen in a few days. When Republicans win in a few days, Obama will have much less power to do anything about this issue. Which is probably the way he wants it. He would probably prefer it just go away or be in the state of confused limbo it is now, so he doesnt have to take responsibility or a position on it. Then he can blame Republicans for nothing get done on it, which he cant do now. All talk, no action. Just like GITMO was going to be shut down. lol.

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Permalink Reply by TallBrunette on October 31, 2010 at 2:57pm

Its ridiculous. If I'm in the military and I have someone covering my ass- I would like that person to think my ass is pretty cute.

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Permalink Reply by Courtney Baldwin on November 2, 2010 at 9:05pm

I'd say yes... It does protect some people... I mean who really NEEDS to know EVERYTHING.. geez

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Permalink Reply by Allie on November 17, 2010 at 4:49pm

As a military wife I have heard all ends of this argument. My husband thinks he'd rather just not know. Just like he doesn't care who is dating or married or whatever, if he has to share a shower with forty guys (helloooo boot camp) he'd rather not know who is gay. That is just his opinion. Homosexuality doesn't bother him, he just doesn't think it has to be something made known to the world because of your job. In any other line of work it could be considered discrimination. I think if someone wants to reveal their sexuality they should, but they should not be forced to do it if they don't want to.

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Permalink Reply by Jourie on December 7, 2010 at 12:24am

The major problem is that even if gays wanted to reveal their sexuality, they can't without being discharged. So I think it has less to do with whether they want to reveal it or not and more with that they can't. And I don't really understand what your last statement means regarding them being forced to do it?

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Permalink Reply by Katie on December 6, 2010 at 10:25pm

I'm glad that the courts believe that it's unconstitutional. I just wish that Congress would pass a law officially repealing and that the military would begin enforcing the repeal. My feeling is that the military is stressful enough without adding the fear that if anyone learns about your private life or your significant other, you could lose your job. Imagine how difficult it would be for you if you couldn't talk to anyone around you about your significant other or a large portion of your personal life, if you couldn't speak with your partner on the phone or say that you loved them, especially if you were deployed and in a situation where you could very well be killed, out of fear that someone might hear and rat you out.

There is absolutely no reason to perpetuate a law that has zero benefits other than protecting bigots from their own irrational fears.

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Permalink Reply by Alice on June 24, 2011 at 7:36pm

The really sad thing is that the military isn't the only career where that happens. It's all too heartbreakingly common.

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Permalink Reply by Jourie on December 7, 2010 at 12:34am

Don't Ask Don't Tell is a ridiculous piece of legislation. It is unbelievable to me that this should even be an issue. If people were more open and less homophobic this wouldn't be a such a huge problem. But because homosexuality is seen as it is in this country, gays are being denied their constitutional rights. Whether they want to share this personal information or not in the military shouldn't be as big of a deal that it is and should not have the repercussions that it does if the information is shared.