DOD seeks to repeal gay ban policy
Jenny Anzelmo, Editor-In-Chief
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Politics
Gay's may soon be able to serve openly in the U.S. Military. While testifying on Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, top Defense Department officials announced that the Pentagon would immediately begin working to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law.
President Obama announced his plan to terminate the policy last week in his State of the Union address.
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are," Obama said.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of Defense Robert. M. Gates both articulated support for the president's plan while testifying Tuesday.
"I fully support the president's decision. The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the commander in chief, and we are moving out accordingly," Gates said.
During his testimony, Gates said the Defense Department would review the process throughout the remainder of 2010 for repealing the policy and initiating an "implementation plan." Gates said the lengthy time frame is needed to assure a transition that is as smooth as possible.
"...to get this right and minimize disruption to a force that is actively fighting two wars and working through the stress of almost a decade of combat- then it is clear to us that we must proceed in a manner that allows for the thorough examination of all issues," Gates said to the committee.
Gates said he has asked that his department review "don't ask, don't tell" regulations and in the next 45 days propose changes within the scope of the current law to "…enforce this policy in a more humane and fair manner."
Mullen said repealing the policy is "the right thing to do," but emphasized he was speaking solely for himself.
"I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity - theirs as individuals and ours as an institution," he said in a statement to the committee.
The president has not received ubiquitous support for his plan. In the past Senator John McCain the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, has expressed support of ending the policy, but on Tuesday he said repealing the policy would be a "mistake."
"At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," McCain said.
The number of military personnel that were discharged in 2009 for violating the 'don't ask don't tell' policy was down significantly from previous years. In 2009 428 service members were discharged compared to 619 in 2008 an all time high of 1,273 in 2001, according to several news reports and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network website.
President Obama announced his plan to terminate the policy last week in his State of the Union address.
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are," Obama said.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of Defense Robert. M. Gates both articulated support for the president's plan while testifying Tuesday.
"I fully support the president's decision. The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the commander in chief, and we are moving out accordingly," Gates said.
During his testimony, Gates said the Defense Department would review the process throughout the remainder of 2010 for repealing the policy and initiating an "implementation plan." Gates said the lengthy time frame is needed to assure a transition that is as smooth as possible.
"...to get this right and minimize disruption to a force that is actively fighting two wars and working through the stress of almost a decade of combat- then it is clear to us that we must proceed in a manner that allows for the thorough examination of all issues," Gates said to the committee.
Gates said he has asked that his department review "don't ask, don't tell" regulations and in the next 45 days propose changes within the scope of the current law to "…enforce this policy in a more humane and fair manner."
Mullen said repealing the policy is "the right thing to do," but emphasized he was speaking solely for himself.
"I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity - theirs as individuals and ours as an institution," he said in a statement to the committee.
The president has not received ubiquitous support for his plan. In the past Senator John McCain the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, has expressed support of ending the policy, but on Tuesday he said repealing the policy would be a "mistake."
"At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," McCain said.
The number of military personnel that were discharged in 2009 for violating the 'don't ask don't tell' policy was down significantly from previous years. In 2009 428 service members were discharged compared to 619 in 2008 an all time high of 1,273 in 2001, according to several news reports and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network website.
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