Last week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prevents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from openly serving in the U.S. military.
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to repeal it as well. Next, the Senate will vote. But even if the Senate passes it, nothing will change until the Pentagon completes its study on Dec. 1.
It’ll be on this day that America finds out if we are ready to let gay people fight for our country.
If feels almost absurd that the previous sentence was just typed. Why is it that we bar people from serving in our military if they are willing to die for our country? Because they are gay? What do DADT proponents assume, that gay men and women will want nothing but sex any time, any place, at any cost?
Yes, they do. According to Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard (ret.), who is on the board of directors of the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee, “Gay men in particular exhibit an appetite for anonymous sex with many partners.
Traditional base gathering places — libraries, theaters, bowling alleys, gyms and athletic fields where both active-duty and military dependents frequent — become targets of opportunity.”
If it dumbfounding that people are basing their opinions of DADT off terrible and false stereotypes. Do they really believe that gay men and women want nothing but sex? Do they believe gay men and women will ignore their military duties? Because if so, they need to look no further than their straight counterparts for that.
Remember the Guantanamo sex scandal in 2005? What about the Air Force Academy sex scandal in 2003? Or what about The Tailhook scandal in 1991?
There is no solid evidence that allowing gay people to openly serve in the military will adversely affect it. DADT costs tax payers millions of dollars each year from the costs of gay investigations and discharges, then training their replacements, according to the Government Accountability Office. Wars are already costing Americans billions of dollars just to fight them. To use money to discharge someone that does not need discharged is a waste.
In the end, DADT needs to end. There are soldiers who take on multiple tours in wars because the army does not have enough soldiers to ease current soldiers’ burdens.
If someone is willing to die for our freedoms, shouldn’t we let them do that despite their sexual preference?
Don’t let the ignorant stereotypes fool you.