Cultural war divides views on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a military policy, but it was created by civilian law.
It has caused heated argument and cries against discrimination since the unspoken policy was passed into federal law by Congress during the Clinton administration.

And people question whether it will be repealed.

The U.S. Department of Defense is conducting a survey of selected members of the U.S. Air Force about the effects of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

“It’s designed to assist leadership in assessing the impacts, if any, that the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell might have on military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruiting and retention,” said Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel in a U.S. Air Force report.

The findings of the study will be reported to the Secretary of Defense by Dec. 1.
In the meantime, congressional candidates, who might have to vote on this issue, have expressed their views.

Greg Knott, the Libertarian candidate for the 9th District, said Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a good idea but was sorely abused and now hurts military effectiveness.

“They promised that gays in the military would have a right to be out of the closet while off-base and not on duty,” Knott said. “Instead they have gone on witch hunts by snooping in private e-mails and discharging soldiers who have served honorably without disclosing their sexual orientation while on duty.”

He said he would not support Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the future.

Todd Young, the Republican candidate, was unavailable for comment.

In the 9th District congressional debate Oct. 18, Young said he has yet to find a reason to repeal the policy, but he remains open to new studies showing that it is not working.

Young, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Marine, said the military is primarily a fighting force and repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell might undermine military readiness.

Baron Hill, the Democrat incumbent, has been and continues to be against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

“It simply does not make sense to discriminate against our men and women in uniform on the basis of sexual orientation,” Hill said. “If someone is willing to take a bullet for our country and serve honorably, we should respect and honor that commitment.” 

Doug Bauder, coordinator of IU’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender office, said it could be a political disaster for Obama to try to repeal the policy now.

However, since candidates, professionals and even episcopal bishops are permitted to be open about their sexuality, Bauder believes it doesn’t make sense that military men and women cannot.

“You’re basically asking people to lie,” Bauder said. “I really feel our military suffers.”
Bauder said there will always be people who do not support GLBT membership in the military, but he hopes younger generations will see less of this.

“If I have any ounce of patriotism left in me, I am of proud of people in the military like those who have served honorably,” Bauder said.