Don’t ask, but don’t forget

WE SAY Obama administration should still find time to repeal discriminatory policy.

Among the deluge of promises President Barack Obama made along the campaign trail was an assurance to the gay community that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy would be abolished.

This law is still on the books, but not due to the snail pace of politics. Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have elected to “push that one down the road a bit” due to the vast amount of other issues on their plates.

While equality for GLBT people in all aspects of life is important, it is understandable that Obama and Gates have elected to postpone this decision in the face of other international crises.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was first enacted in 1993 under the Clinton administration and is intended to regulate how gays are treated in the military. In effect, the law prohibits anyone from asking about a soldier’s sexual orientation, but also forbids those who are openly gay from serving in the military.

While this rule is nothing more than an embodiment of antiquated prejudice, the symbolism of it being struck down is not necessary to the momentum of the gay rights movement.

For one, support for gay rights has skyrocketed since Obama’s election. The passage of Proposition 8 in California re-energized a national protest supporting human rights in this country, and that outburst helped lead to unprecedented change in equality for same-sex couples. Many have found reason to celebrate in the past week as Iowa and Vermont legalized same-sex marriage.

A July 2008 ABC poll showed that three-quarters of Americans are in favor of allowing GLBT people to serve openly in the military.

It is understandable that Obama and Gates have postponed getting rid of this regulation. Crises such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the financial meltdown and pirates threaten the lives and well-being of Americans and should take priority.

That, however, does not mean the promise to get rid of the outdated “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy should not be ignored or forgotten by the Obama administration.