Gates' out of the closet

For many years the US Army has developed a don’t ask-don’t tell policy on the gays serving under their command. Obama now takes a new look on it through Gates’ eyes.

The measure comes from the 90s, when it was instituted. Before, when a potential candidate wanted to enroll, they were requested to answer a question about their sexual orientation. If they were gay, they were banned. In 1993 the Armed Forces changed that and the question was never again asked. But still, if a soldier recognizes openly he or she is gay, they are dismissed immediately.

The debate become brought awareness this spring when it was known that the Army had discharged a total of four gay Arabic interpreters since Obama took his chair in the White House. As Jon Stewart pointed out then, there is a big paradox in keeping the detainees from Guantanamo and fire the interpreters that could make us understand them. In the end, maybe they will talk under torture, but waterboarding is not going to make them talk in English.

Then there was a huge amount of criticism against Obama. One of his campaign promises had been to try to fight against gender, sexual orientation or other kind of discrimination, especially in the work environment. Hard to justify that when it happens in your own company.

But that’s about to change. On Wednesday the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, outlined a new approach from Obama Administration to the don’t ask-don’t tell policy. According to Gates, the review to the policy won’t be general, but just case by case. At least is a beginning.

Many officers and soldiers were outed from service due to vengeance or a jilted lover. Many others held fundamental positions that are key in the war against terrorism. Those fighters could be re-stated on their ranks if the policy -which accounts with the Generals’ approval too- pass the Congress.

It is not the first time this is attempted. Bill Clinton tried to lift the ban on gays in the military, but his try was strongly opposed from the Armed Forces and therefore, it didn’t advance through the next stages. This time, however, the White House, the military and the Congress seems to be in the same path. But not the courts.




Did you like it? Share it