On Sept. 21, the United States Senate made a telling decision to not to pass the defense spending budget because of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal amendment. This vote has made it evident that homophobia is a powerful entity within American politics. This is the first defense bill not to be passed in 48 years of voting.
When originally created, DADT was meant to be a protective measure for gay and lesbian soldiers. However, now it is used as an excuse to seek out and harass the very people the policy was intended to protect. Suspected gay soldiers have their e-mails searched and their personal life outside of the military questioned. They are constantly in fear because† of who they are and what they are passionate about is dually not accepted.
What is ironic about the whole thing is that even if the Senate had passed the defense bill with the DADT amendment in it, it would not have eliminated the policy. If the bill had passed, the amendment would have let the Pentagon decide whether or not the policy should remain. John McCain, leader of this latest anti-gay effort, said in a 2008 interview that he would support the repeal of DADT if the military commanders advised it.
However, now that Chairman of Joints Chief of Staff Admiral Mullan and Defense Secretary Robert Gates stood up and supported the DADT repeal, McCain and fellow GOP members are scrambling for new excuses as to why the policy must remain.
How is it possible that in 2010 we are having debates on the rights of gay and lesbian citizens? Because of their sexual orientation they are not allowed to go to the front lines and fight for freedom, something that I do not even have the fortitude to do. If gay men and women want to hide who they are and live in fear of being discovered, then they are more than welcome to come and fight for our country! When we are at war in Afghanistan, and have 50,000 troops and mercenaries remaining in Iraq, we are in no position to weed people out for reasons such as their sexuality. Ignorance and fear are putting us in harm’s way by allowing less people to fight in the military.
75 percent of Americans believe that DADT should be repealed. 64 percent of citizens polled, who identify as Republicans, also agree that DADT should be repealed. So who exactly were the Senators who voted against the repeal representing? It is evident that they were hardly representing the American people, instead they are representing partisan politics and homophobia.