Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: End to DADT – Obama, Spector, and now the Secretary of the Army
Today was a big day on the blogs. At least Senator Arlen Spector, a liberal senator from Pennsylvania, chose today to argue for the end of legislative discrimination against LGBT people in the U.S.
Then, on the same say, the Army Times publishes an interview with Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, who states that the army is ready to change policies when it comes to gays in the military. This, after Obama’s announcement at the HRC dinner that he intends to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
There is a little bit of Rosie the Riviter syndrome happening here. It is likely no surprise that the military wants to open its doors to more recruits at a time when enlistment numbers are low and the war we are fighting is not going so well. Obama has been asked to send more troops to Afghanistan and the next day, fourteen die in a helicopter crash.
Just like women in the World Wars, gays might be benefiting from dire circumstances.
That said, eliminating discrimination, even in the army, is important. If I had my way, the people I know wouldn’t be enlisting to fight a losing war in Afghanistan, to be sent out on multiple tours with ill-suited equipment and training. But I respect their right to do so. More important, those in the army already, who have already made that choice, should not be forced to live in hiding or risk their job.
But the arguments are old news. The point is that the U.S. might actually be desperate enough that gays in the military doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. Is this a good thing? I’m not sure. But it might have a positive lasting effect on the fight for equality.
As a TS army vet I can assure you that compared to the rest of the world’s militarys we are hardly ill equiped.The biggest let down I have in the whole end don’t ask debate is why are TS and TG’s being left to be ran over by the bus again.Are we really that good as speed bumps?How about the fact that we should want to live in a country where we are all so proud of it that we all wish to serve and in turn can.If you look to the TS/TG community you will find many of us that not only served before don’t ask don’t tell but we actually finished our service contracts honorably.Ending don’t ask don’t tell for me goes hand and hand with getting ENDA passed but for both to be successfull TS/Tg people can’t be left behind!
The past few weeks have seen an increased media visibility and successful strides taken for gay and lesbian civil rights. With our nation in a state of economic struggle, it is great to see LGBTQ issues at the forefront of media,grassroots, and national political campaigns. I agree, that the double edged sword to the sudden change in heart about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is the question of are gays simply benefiting from poor circumstances or because of an actual tangible shift in military and Congressional opinion. Gays and lesbians will have to wait until after relations in Afghanistan and Iraq have calmed down to see if the Rosie the Riveter effect you speak of has played a role. Also, I agree that an end to discrimination (be it in the military) by any means has to be some kind of positive progress. That being said, I would really like to see gay and lesbian civil rights organizations channel this increased media visibility and use it to their advantage to further promote their issues.
I’m not sure that I’d call Arlen Spector a “liberal senator.” He was a liberal Republican a few months ago; he’s now a conservative Democrat, but that makes him, at the most, middle of the road. A small point, perhaps.
Actually, the military has had no problems meeting its recruiting goals, no doubt because of the economy. The fact that the military brass is more and more open to the idea of repealing DADT – even while meeting their recruiting goals – tells me that change (albeit at a glacial speed) is coming!
OMG! Does Elaine Donnelly know about this??
“But the arguments are old news. The point is that the U.S. might actually be desperate enough that gays in the military doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.”
This is pretty much the reason Israel allowed gays to serve. The military’s need for human resources can ultimately trump any bigotry its soldiers may have.