Don’t ask, don’t tell debate

Don’t ask, don’t tell… it’s been the military’s policy regarding homosexuality for years, but that could soon change. At the request of President Obama, Congress will vote on whether to repeal the policy and allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says it’s not a matter of if gays and lesbians will be allowed to serve openly, but when.

Since 1994 the Pentagon has discharged about 13,000 homosexual troops from the military.
Some opponents are worried repealing the ban could cause a military mass exodus.
In 2008 the military times survey suggested almost 25-percent of active troops would leave the service if gays were allowed to serve openly.

Current and former troops have responded with mixed reviews.
Master Sergeant Greg Scott says, “most of the Marines that I’ve worked with, that I know are not in favor of the repealing of the ban.”
But former Air Force Sergeant Kory Grant says, “it shouldn’t matter. You know you put the uniform on just like I put the uniform on, or did put the uniform on. And we should all just be able to fight for our country.”

Congress must approve the decision before the military can remove the don’t ask, don’t tell policy. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked for a year long study to figure out the best way to repeal the policy. In the mean time gates asked the military to loosen enforcement of the ban on gay troops.