The Military is Ready to Lift the Ban on Gay Soldiers. Is Obama?

Published October 26, 2009 @ 11:16AM PT

U.S. Army

The new United States Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, issued a statement this weekend that said the U.S. Army is ready to lift the ban on gay and lesbian soldiers, a fixture of the U.S. military since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was put into place in the early 1990s. McHugh said that the predictions of "doom and gloom" that gay soldiers would disrupt the military are unfounded, and insulting to the integrity of the Armed Services.

"Anytime you have a broad-based policy change, there are challenges to that,” McHugh told the Army Times. “The Army has a big history of taking on similar issues, [with] predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out."

McHugh is right. Our U.S. Military is capable of a lot of things, the least of which is being able to serve with perfectly capable soldiers of different sexual orientations. The military can easily handle a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Of course, the Obama administration is still walking on egg shells with the issue. Several weeks ago President Barack Obama told gay rights activists that he would be the President that overturns "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." But then this weekend, the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) took a turn for the aggressive against Obama, because his Justice Department is trying to hold up an LCR lawsuit that seeks to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Is this a White House that's trying to talk out of both sides of its mouth?

Really, what it sounds like is that Obama wants "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" overturned, but on his timeline. And that's the problem -- ending discrimination only fits well into a timeline if you're not the one being victimized by it. Meanwhile, for the tens of thousands of gay soldiers who've been discharged from the military or told they're not good enough to get in, the time is now for an immediate repeal.

(Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army's photostream on Flickr.)

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Comments (8)

Repeal of DADT is unlikely to come via Obama--certainly unlikely to happen anytime soon. He has already shown himself to be no friend to the LGBTQ community which in large part voted for him. He's too afraid of the fundies he has been trying to court.

Of course there is no reason to continue DADT. Gay and lesbian military personnel are no threat to their heterosexual colleagues and more and more the armed forces in this country are coming to realise hat.

I'm sure Obama has his own timeline but as Michael says ending discrimination only fits well into a timeline as long as you are not those who are being discriminated again. So much for Obama and his "fierce ugency of whenever"

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/26/2009 @ 01:34PM PT
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I agree, although the military and its officials are calling for a repeal I too doubt Obama will allow it to be repealed unless he is elected for a second term, and possibly a half ass repeal of DADT in his eighth year. Its a good thing I didn't vote for him back in November 4, and I am glad to vote independent or libertarian again next year, and if I was still going to be in this country, the next four after that until we get a president who fights that we must be included and we must have full equal rights.

All I can say to the rest of you guys and girls.

"Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...." -Guy Fawkes, the gunpowder treason poem.

The forth of November we elected Obama, it was the fifth when we discovered that the constitution no longer holds grounds over protecting people from anti-democratic and american, ballot measures on their fundamental, constitutional rights when those rights are against the grain of religious fundamentalist that has now hijacked this country.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/26/2009 @ 08:47PM PT
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Ive long believed that were over due for a revolution and I aint talking about the kind you get by voting...

The only problem is, I believe that unless america gets to be like hitler's germany or worse that the american people for the most part will be too pacifistic to ever get into one.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/27/2009 @ 04:20PM PT
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I hope that Obama does repeal DADT. The sooner, the better.

This bill is an insult to the armed forces, and to the LGBT community.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/26/2009 @ 03:10PM PT
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The intolerant policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' must be repealed. President Obama knows that repealing that intolerant military policy is important, but it doesn't make sense that the Department of Justice is holding a lawsuit which might repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. Discrimination against LGBT military service members is unjustified and is what President Obama must strongly understand. President Obama must not give into intolerant conservatives.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/26/2009 @ 04:19PM PT
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Lets see here now...

The majority of americans believe its time...

Most politicians believe its time...

The soldiers believe its time...

So when is somebody gonna clue in obama that its time ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/27/2009 @ 04:22PM PT
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You are absolutely correct Tom, having Gay soldiers is long overdue. They just want to serve our country like everyone else.It is time they got the chance.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/28/2009 @ 04:34AM PT
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Indeed...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/01/2009 @ 06:25PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.