It's Time for Military To Open Its Closet

President Barack Obama's State of the Union address had a retro feel to it when he broached a controversial subject that has been on the back burner for the last 16 years: gays and lesbians in the military. Obama wants to repeal the existing policy, known as "Don't ask, don't tell." He calls making the change "the right thing to do."

It is. And it's about time the country did right by gay and lesbian service members. The current policy ignores a basic inequity that is not cured by politically convenient half-measures that don't solve anything.

Speaking of politically convenient half-measures, it was in December 1993 that President Bill Clinton issued an executive order that established the current policy. The idea began as a compromise proposed by Clinton's defense secretary, Les Aspin, who opposed Clinton's campaign promise to drop the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. Aspin suggested prohibiting the military from asking recruits about their orientation and allowing gays and lesbians to serve in uniform, as long as they didn't declare their orientation or engage in homosexual behavior.

Problem solved? Well, not exactly. The compromise was heavy on pragmatism and light on principle. Clinton had gotten himself into a tight spot by making a promise that he had trouble keeping.

This policy was intended to help him wiggle out. But, ultimately, the gay and lesbian communities weren't happy. Some of its members said at the time that "don't ask, don't tell" was political lingo for "let's pretend."

Now all these years later, it may be that many Americans are tired of pretending. This time around, Obama is not likely to meet the degree of resistance that Clinton encountered — especially from senior military leaders. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is onboard and is scheduled to unveil the Pentagon's plan to prepare for repealing the policy at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing tomorrow. The House will also weigh in. Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, announced that the subcommittee she chairs of the House Armed Services Committee will also hold a hearing on the issue in March.

Those who oppose any change in the current law are some of the same people who once supported the old policy of an outright ban. They talk about how it could hurt morale and disrupt military cohesion at a time when the United States is fighting two wars.

They should listen to Bill Mynatt of Knoxville, Tenn., who discussed the idea of repealing "don't ask, don't tell" last year while a senior at West Point. "I really don't think it's going to be that big of a deal," Mynatt told The New York Times. "There are gay soldiers serving and doing their jobs well, and it's not going to change."

REPRINTED FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.

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