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November 19, 2008

104 Generals and Admirals: Military Gay Ban Must End

More than 100 retired generals and admirals are calling for an end to "don't ask, don't tell," the military's policy of not allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, reports the Associated Press.

"As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion, and sexuality," the officers wrote. Military readiness was the overall focus of their call for repeal.

The statement from military leaders resurrects the policy debate for President-elect Barack Obama at a time that parallels similar deliberations at the outset of the Clinton administration. Those contentious talks ultimately resulted in adoption of the discriminatory policy and is widely considered to be the first major PR blunder of incoming President Clinton, who had made a campaign pledge to repeal the ban on gays in the military.

President-elect Obama supports repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" but told The Advocate last spring that he would not use the issue as a litmus test in choosing his Joint Chiefs of Staff. (The Advocate)

Keywords:  DADT 
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Reader Comments

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  • Name: Derfla
    Date posted: 2009-02-23 7:47 PM
    Hometown: Seattle

    Comment:

    When I joined the Army Reserves in 2000 I had my first boyfriend. At that time I thought it was a phase. 9 years later, currently in the reserves and with a male companion my beliefs on the policy has changed. Still on the fence with wanting to be out but I battle it everytime I am in uniform. I truely can't be true to myself and others when I am in uniform. Though I get out in 2011, I feel like I can't be totally honest with myself untill then or come out to my unit. It has held me back from getting promoted and wanting to make a difference in the service because of the fear of having my peers find out and not excepting me. It is time to CHANGE the DADT.


  • Name: Michael Johnson
    Date posted: 2008-11-20 7:38 PM
    Hometown: Denver COlorado

    Comment:

    When I` entered the Army in 1962 I did not think I was gay since I di not want to be a woman. The old stereotype. After 4 years of service I knew I like men more than women. I was a Majr then. I spent the next 10 years worrying I woul loose everything. I was medically retired in 1986 as a Lieutenant COlonel. We need to lift the` ban.


  • Name: Susan Brown
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 6:53 PM
    Hometown: Dayton

    Comment:

    I did not realize I was gay when I enlisted in the Air Force, but served from 1955 until 1964. The last six years were filled with horror, and you would not believe what all goes on to "catch" a gay. On base mail intercepted, phones tapped, car followed, bugs in rooms, etc. Enlisted accused lesbians were not treated with the respect an accused female officer received. The homosexual personnel ban is not only foolish, it drains America of many talented, trustworthy and patriotic personnel. Just how many Farsi speaking people have been discharged/accused of being gay? How can anyone say that is a good move.


  • Name: Bob Smullen
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 6:13 PM
    Hometown: Hackensack, NJ

    Comment:

    As a veteran, as a gay man, as an American, I say it is high time to end this childishness of DADT. But I agree with the comment of Eileen Smyth. Bill Clinton did the best that he could. I remember at the time how the so called "liberal" media attacked Clinton, doing everything that they could to undermine him in his efforts to hold true to his campaing promise. The New York Times and the major news networks were part of that cowardly group.


  • Name: christian
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 5:01 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    It would be the best thing that we could do as a nation to get rid of don’t ask don’t’ tell. It would finally take the perverted sneaking around “sex” part of our military out of the equation. Finally making them more professional and we would get more career military professionals. It would be bad for circuit party promoters since most of those guys are military guys sneaking away from base anyway.


  • Name: Allen
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 1:34 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    I agree that this is a wonderful development in the elimination of this discriminatory policy. it is fascinating, however, that it is RETIRED staff calling for this. Hmm


  • Name: Eileen Smyth
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 3:07 AM
    Hometown: Trenton, New Jersey

    Comment:

    DADT is discrimanatory and we need to move beyond it, but it was an attempted step in the right direction and I would like to see Clinton get credit for that. I remember when Clinton promised to help gays during his campaign and though I am straight, it was one of the reasons I voted for him. No presidential candidate before him had the audacity to do that and the fact is, he did follow through as best he could. Before DADT, everyone entering the military was asked outright if they were homosexual and of course gays were rejected as a security risk. DADT injected the idea of privacy into the process, the idea that one's sexual orientation is nobody's business but the consenting adults invovled. It was a huge improvement over the attitude of previous generations.


  • Name: Kate Doolan
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 8:30 PM
    Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

    Comment:

    Well, the ban was overturned on the Australian military in 1992 and from what I have seen, they haven't lost any of their effectiveness or world class reputation!


  • Name: Joe
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 4:57 PM
    Hometown: Indianapolis

    Comment:

    As a gay man and veteran I welcome the support of these generals and admirals. But where were they when they were on active duty and could have made a difference?


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 4:19 PM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    Kudos to these folks for taking a positive stand for equal rights. The policy of excluding gays/lesbians from serving openly is both discriminatory and counter productive. I was discharged from the navy at age 19, for innocently coming out to a fellow sailor who promptly reported it. All I wanted to do was serve my country and was denied that chance, based solely on my sexual orientation. What BULL!!! Hopefully, President-Elect Obama will make getting rid of DADT, a high priority in his administration. It is time we joined the rest of our allies who have opened their ranks to LGBT people, with no apparent problems.


  • Name: Jen
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 3:43 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    As a cadet in the army I am always walking on egg shells with my company. I know that some of them suspect and have conversations about the policy and are completely ok with gays serving openly in the army. I just don’t want to risk my future career. I hope that with this executive change, my fellow service men and women can live their lives openly and proud.


  • Name: Barb
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 1:24 PM
    Hometown: Seaside

    Comment:

    Yes, end this terrible policy now. Respect ALL servicemembers. Time for equality in all areas for gays and lesbians. Equality in Marriage! Equal rights PERIOD. When will America catch up with other nations? How bizarre that our country which has long stood for freedom and liberty for ALL continues to allow such repressive policies. No more!


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