Its days -- thankfully -- appear numbered. There is a decent chance this perniciously discriminatory weed planted in 1993 as a compromise soon will be yanked out by its roots.
All the signs are there: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, joined last week by top military brass, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, backs President Barack Obama's push to repeal the inane "don't ask, don't tell" law and regulations.
During a Senate hearing, Mullen said: "It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."
Colin Powell, a four-star general and former secretary of State, said: "In the almost 17 years since the 'don't ask, don't tell' legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. I fully support the new approach. . . ."
He is right. Times have changed.
What was the policy's point? Well, then-President Bill Clinton promised everybody could serve in the military -- but ran into a wall of congressional resistance when it came to gays. He and opponents settled on a convoluted policy insisting gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the military must live in the shadows, hiding their sexual orientation -- not even talking about it -- or risk being tossed out. We cheapened ourselves by sweeping the question under the rug, telling people willing to pick up arms for this nation -- to die, if necessary --that they were second-class citizens.
Later, Congress decided the military, for its part, would not harass or investigate without solid evidence of homosexuality. Still, one estimate is that from 1993 until now, the military has dumped 13,500 gay men and lesbians -- enough for a fair-size Army division. At least some must have had critical skills -- pilots, doctors, shooting ability -- needed by a military waging two wars against far-away crazies and running a relief effort for Haiti.
People I respect, like Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia, got it wrong. He joined with the military to oppose lifting the complete ban on gays in effect before 1993. Opponents said having gays around -- or at least knowing they were around -- would affect morale and unit cohesion. Carloads of studies since show that is hogwash. While I understand the opposition, others I respect were on the right side of the fight. The late Sen. Barry Goldwater, Mr. Conservative, was one of them.
"When the facts lead to one conclusion," he said, "I say it's time to act, not to hide. The country and the military know that eventually the ban will be lifted. The only remaining questions are how much muck we will all be dragged through. . . ." During a brief Army stint, I served with gays, although they certainly never would have admitted their sexual orientation. (My, how times have not changed.) I figured it was none of my business. I did not get gay cooties or suffer poor morale or tumble into bleak despair because my unit misplaced its cohesion. Nothing happened. They did their jobs. I did mine. In fact, I could do my job only because they did theirs.
We need to get beyond the gay thing. It's a waste of energy. At best, it's inelegant. At worst, it's stupid in an unseemly, hillbilly sort of way. For instance, the military tells openly gay, lesbian or bisexual folks, "We don't want you," but, "Hey, you minor league felons and high school dropouts join right up." Huh?
In a nation predicated on freedom it seems hypocritical so many are willing to deny gays, lesbians and bisexuals -- or anybody different -- rights most take for granted. I ask you, if gays cannot have the same rights, what would you do with them? Round them up? Put them in interior decorating camps? Make them wear pink stars? What?
We could, I guess, continue to make them lie about who they are while they risk their lives for us.
We could, but it would be wrong.
Paul Jenkins is editor of the Anchorage Daily Planet.
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