"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Still Very Much Alive

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Still Very Much Alive
By David Mixner
Copyright by David Mixner
Jun 10 2010 0
http://www.davidmixner.com/2010/06/dont-ask-dont-tell-still-very-much-alive.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DavidMixnerCom+%28DavidMixner.com%29


Over the last couple of weeks, I have been stunned at the number of people, especially straight people, who assume "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been repealed. Many think it is just a couple of more smooth steps and the LGBT community will be able to serve openly and proudly. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The "compromised measure" passed in the House has not yet been voted on in the Senate. Republicans are planning a filibuster. The likelihood is that we do have the votes to invoke cloture and bring the compromise to the floor of the Senate for a vote. However, Republicans' second line of defense, led by the ever-integrity morphing Senator McCain, is to change the very weak legislation by amendment. Instead of the President, Secretary of Defense and head of the Joint Chiefs having final approval, they would insist that the head of every service branch sign off on the right of gays and lesbians to serve their country.

Even if the Senate passes the legislation without amendment, the compromise is so weak there are numerous pit falls ahead. The final report, which won't include interviews with LGBT soldiers, might suggest a two to four year implementation policy. One of the suggestions circulating around military circles is 'separate but equal' barracks and units. Not going to happen? In 1993, it was a proposal that even President Clinton seriously considered.

Finally while all this is going on there is no 'stop-loss order' halting dismissals from the armed forces. Our soldiers are still living in fear, shame and risk of dismissal. In fact, there is no mandate, timeline or guarantee that this couldn't go on for quite a long period of time.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is far from dead. It is alive and kicking and requires a lot of 'deep faith' down the road. As a community, we have never done terribly well with empty promises.