The Senate voted to repeal the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that prevents gay men and women from being open about their sexuality while serving in the military today (12/18/2010). Now all that's left is for the president to sign it.

If you haven't heard about this yet, the CBS News Report can be found here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20026108-503544.html

Personally, I think it's a good idea. It will allow a lot more people to serve in the military who want to. Sexuality should not have any connection to being a soldier. Preferences don't have an effect on how well you protect your country.

My brother wouldn't tell me his personal opinion. He did say that he thinks it will lead to a lot of soldiers being killed based on their sexuality. He seems to think that even if it's legal, the army won't accept it and will persecute anyone who chooses to be open.


Anyone else have any opinions?

I think the policy was stupid in the first place.

While I personally don't believe that being gay or bisexual is a good thing, I don't think people should be put up against a wall because they are. It basically breaks the Constitution; I mean, it's not fair.

So I'm glad it's being lifted.

I truly do not care whatever their sexuality is (I am not going to join the military), who are we to say someone cant be proud of what makes them happy? So what if they like men over women Or visa versa. The military should let anyone that wants to join, join. If they are going to make such a fuss about people who are "gay" or different that is technically their problem, but let people whoever the hell they want to be.

This is good. The LGBT community are all Americans just like us. They deserve the same rights as promised in the Constitution. I'm glad that this has happened.

Let me get some clarification.... they can still serve in the military if they are gay?

I dunno... this isn't a bad thing, but in the rank and file nothing will actually change. Everyone knows who is and isn't gay. It's not tough to figure out when you spend 6 months with the same group of people. I don't see this accomplishing much in the long run.

I'm glad this was lifted. More people will join the military now that they can be open about their sexuality.

geeogree :

The big difference is that a person can actually say that they are gay versus hiding it. With "Don't Ask Don't Tell," they can be kicked out if they admit it say they are gay. With that lifted, anyone can say they are gay without official repercussions.

Some people have reached such a high rank that they felt it was safe to say they are gay. They lost their rank and were kicked out anyway. Other people just give up and say they're gay because they're tired of hiding it. My history teacher in high school was an army drill sergeant for years. He shared a bunch of his army stories, including one about when he found out one of his soldiers was gay while they were serving (in Somalia or Panama I think). The soldier told him and he didn't believe it up until the guy found a way to prove it (the teacher refused to explain what the proof was). The point is that some soldiers are secretly gay and are good at hiding it. Without the ban they don't have to hide.

In society, I see it as more of another accomplished goal for gay rights advocates. It was a discrimination that is being lifted.

oh okay.... I wasn't aware there were punishments attached to being gay in the military. Or, openly gay. That is stupid that you could get kicked out for being gay.

I'm glad that this was done then. Being gay doesn't make you any better or worse at being a soldier than being straight.

Well, like everything in this world, there's a good and a bad to it.

Yes, gay men/woman being able to fight in the military is a great thing. I hope they fight their best for America, and come home alive.

However (and I'm sort of semi-serious here), they've effectively removed the one surefire way to get kicked from the military. Seriously, if they have another draft at any point in time, people like me won't be able to dodge anymore without faking serious mental illness (Even then it's not 100% guaranteed). Some people, like me, just aren't built for military combat.

I'm a scrawny nerd, have terrible aim with a gun, and get confused VERY easily in hectic situations. So something tells me that if you put a gun in my hand and put me in a place where bombs are constantly going off, friendly fire will be a lot more frequent.

DADO was perfect for draft dodgers because all you had to do is say "Oh, by the way, I'm gay. Is that okay?". Then you're home free. Now, there's just no excuse, unless you hide for a couple months.

I never had a problem with being around gays. I don't know if I've been around gays in the Army but it wouldn't bother me, although there were rumors about certain people in my last unit being gay, both male and female. In a way, I'm glad the policy is lifted, but really I could care less. If someone in my came up and told me they gay I wouldn't have a problem with it.