The other issue is that it's important to give some context to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. When President Clinton pushed for DADT, it was considered radical and pro-gay. The military and the rightwingers were adamantly opposed to allowing gay people to serve at all and regularly pursued people on suspicion of homosexual leanings. DADT has many flaws, including the matter of not protecting people as much as was intended, but it's tremendously misleading to suggest that Clinton created a ban on gays.
White House eyes compromise on gays in military
PHILIP ELLIOTT | May 24, 2010 01:36 PM EST | AP
WASHINGTON — The White House is talking with gay rights activists, lawmakers and Pentagon officials about a push to hasten the repeal of a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
The group was meeting Monday at the White House to discuss a faster pace to end the Clinton-era ban on openly gay service members. Lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation this week that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy this year – sooner than expected – although implementation would have to await a Defense Department review.
If Congress approves the repeal, it would still take several years before gays and lesbians could serve openly while the Pentagon writes a policy based on its review.
No comments:
Post a Comment