"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the U.S. military policy banning gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving openly in the military, in place for 17 years, has been repealed by Congress. The legislation is to be signed by President Obama Wednesday morning.
"It was the right thing to do for our military, " said Independent Senator Joe Lieberman. "It was the right thing to do for our country."
Republican Senator Susan Collins agrees: "I want to thank all of the gay men and women that are fighting for us today in Afghanistan and in Irag. We honor your service and now we can do so openly."
However, Republican Senator John McCain, who led the opposition against the repeal, said, "I've heard from thousands, thousands of active duty and retired military personnel. I've heard from them and they're saying, 'Senator McCain it isn't broke and don't fix it.'"
With the legislation ready to be signed, there are still significant steps that must be taken to put the historic measure in effect.
Before the 60-day waiting period, President Obama, along with top advisers Robert Gates and Mike Mullen, must show that repealing DADT does not hamper the military's effectiveness.
They must look at how the troops will accept it and deal with it. In addition, they must analyze if the repeal will hinder the military effort in Afghanistan and Iraq. Peter Mansoor, retired Army colonel and professor of military history at Ohio State University, said "Pretty much all the heated discussion is over and now it's a matter of the more mundane aspects of implementing the law."
The troops must be prepared for the new law.
Said Aaron Belkin, the director of the Palm Center, a research institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara:
"We expect the Pentagon to shortly announce its demand for a lengthy period of training and education to prepare the troops for open gay service, possibly lasting though much of 2011, before repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' can be certified."
However, Belkin indicated that it took only 40 days to train military forces on DADT when it came into law under President Bill Clinton in 1993-94. Belkin believes the Pentagon is able to train forces quickly even in combat zones. Said Belkin, "The troops already know how to interact with gays because they do so every day."
Indeed, with the repeal of "Dont Ask, Don't Tell," the gay, lesbian and bisexual people currently serving in the military are still gay, lesbian or bisexual. It doesn't change their effectiveness as military personnel. It only has the potential for those around them to know their sexual orientation, and it is unclear how many gay, lesbian or bisexual military personnel will even share that information, despite the repeal.
Will Obama suspend all discharges?
Belkin said, "Only three steps are needed to assure a smooth and quick transition to open gay service: an immediate executive order from President Obama suspending all discharges; a few weeks to put the new regulations in place; and following this, immediate certification to end 'don't ask, don't tell.'"
Suspending discharges is an important step for gay, lesbian and bisexual military personnel. Until the law is in full-effect, there is still a ban on serving openly. Is it important in the spirit of the law for such a ban to be removed?
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, believes so: "I respectfully ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to use his authority to suspend all 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' investigations during this interim period. Until the President signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law."
Sources:
Repealing 'don't ask, don't tell': the next steps, CNN
Jillian Rayfield, McCain Rants Against DADT Repeal: 'Today's A Very Sad Day' (VIDEO), TPM
Next step: Implementing the repeal of DADT, Army Times
In Wake of Senate DADT Victory, Experts say lengthy training period for troops is unneeded, Palm Center
New Study: Pentagon Can Train Entire Force Rapidly, Palm Center
Chris Geidner, White House Won't Commit to Halting DADT Discharges -- a Move Urged By Reid, Levin, Metro Weekly
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