Good Riddance to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

On Saturday December 18, 2010, a historical record was set when United States Senate voted to repeal the ban on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell. This ban was unconstitutional for every American who wished to join the military. Although the ban was repealed on Saturday, President Obama will sign it into law next week. The policy part of this will not take effect until sometime next year according to Yahoo News.

Instituted in 1993 this ban has barred anyone who is openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from talking about his or her relationships in any context within the military workplace. The military thought that being gay created an unacceptable risk to the morale and discipline of the service. For almost twenty years, Don't Ask Don't Tell existed as a form of discrimination in the eyes of many people.

Lifting the ban is a step in the right direction for this country. This ban not only prevented openly gay people from entering the military it also forced out thousands of active duty members who were serving our country , simply because they were gay. That is blatant discrimination.

The ban itself on gay people in the military should have never been an issue in the first place. No other business, government agency, or institution ever created a ban such as this, so why should the military be able to do so. Employers and non-profit agencies do not discriminate against gay people. No other entity within the borders of the United States unashamedly discriminate against people, so why should our military.

Perhaps it was the close sleeping quarters or may be the gang style showers in the barracks that helped fuel the desire for the ban. There is not any Don't Ask Don't Tell policy for the NBA, NHL, or NFL, which all utilize these gang type showers. College dorm rooms as well as hospitals rooms around the nation do not discriminate people based on sexual preference, same sex students and patients share rooms.

I do not think having openly gay people in the military will hurt anyone. When I was serving in the Army down at Fort Hood, Texas in 1988-1990, pre-ban, there was not a problem with same sex relationships. All of my fellow service men and women gay or not, were professionals while on the job and in the barracks, of course until the booze started flowing freely. Then the only problem was the men flirting with women, women flirting with men, and the occasional same sex flirting but it was not normal behavior.

While I was stationed in South Korea at Camp Humphries from 1993 through early 1994 as a spec 4, there was a rumored to be gay sergeant within the company. I never seen him flirt or act inappropriately with another solider on or off post. His private life was his own business, as was my private life. I cannot help but think in the era of "Don't Ask Don't Tell, this sergeant would have been removed from active duty, on hearsay. He was one of the hardest working most admirable men I have ever met, and always ready to lend a hand to anyone no matter their rank.

Perhaps now that this ridiculous ban has been repealed, it will open doors to allow all the people of America be they gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgendered and straight the same opportunities and freedoms across the board.