Everyone should have the right to ask and to tell

Friday, February 26, 2010

By Lindon Chen
Photographer

In the past couple of weeks, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy of the United States military has been a contentious topic throughout the nation, from the State of the Union Address to activities in Congress.

The DADT policy is discriminatory toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people and is an affront to the American principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The DADT policy openly restricts U.S. LGBT citizens from joining the army solely because of sexual orientation, not because of crimes committed, medical history or any other legitimate reason.

In 1993, the Clinton administration established the DADT policy. Clinton had intentions to allow any citizen the right to join and serve in the military, regardless of sexual orientation. However, he was met with opposition, and the DADT policy was formed as a compromise between Clinton and Congress.

Under the current policy, if an LGBT troop “comes out” in his or her regiment, this soldier is to be let off with a dishonorable discharge. This is a serious punishment to a discharged soldier, as a DD serves as a practical “don’t hire me” for future employers.

Indirectly, the soldier is thus being denied employment because of his or her sexuality. The effects of this policy violate Executive Order 13087, which prohibits job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

It is grossly unfair that these dishonorably discharged LGBT people are placed under the same category as murderers, sexual assaulters and deserters who have been discharged.

There are many things that are unwise about this policy. Firstly, DADT curtails the size of the military. According to the Legal Defense Network, 12,542 soldiers have been discharged between 1994 and 2007 because of the DADT policy.

Obviously, the U.S. military could use as much manpower as it can get, and it is counterintuitive that it would turn away this many potential soldiers.

On Jan. 27, President Obama openly opposed the DADT policy during his State of the Union Address on the basis that it is discriminatory. Federal agencies do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and the U.S. military should not either

Change is needed in the area of enrollment into the military. All American LGBT citizens should be able to serve the country.

Hopefully, with the support of President Obama, legislation will be executed to dispose of this obsolete policy very soon. With change of the DADT policy on the horizon, the U.S. military will become a more open environment for all.