PROGRESS....Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repealed

       To some people Barrack Obama’s presidency is a big moment in our nation’s history, however to me September 20, 2011 is an even bigger moment, for it changes the lives of thousands, maybe even millions. This particular day made me extremely proud to say I am an American because I have family members and friends who were directly affected by this policy. The repealing of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy went into affect today, allowing our servicemen and women to serve openly gay in our armed forces. Since World War II (check out the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell timeline here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/dont-ask-dont-tell-timeline/), our nation has been against this sanction resulting in the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell bill being signed into law in 1993 by then president Bill Clinton. 

      This policy prohibited people who "demonstrate a tendency or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because their presence "would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability. The act prohibited any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. The act specified that service members who disclose that they are homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct should be separated (discharged) except when a service member's conduct was "for the purpose of avoiding or terminating military service" or when it "would not be in the best interest of the armed forces." This policy led to the harassment of individuals who were perceived by others as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, the discharging of over 14,000 service men and women, and even the death of one soldier, Barry Winchell (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-rowe/taps-for-barry-winchell-r_b_226004.html). 
       This was not an easy task but with the guidance of Congressman and veteran Patrick Murphy and many others this task was completed. The repealing of this policy changes the way we as a society perceive, work with, and react to individuals who are gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual. It also gives them the freedom to marry their partners. This change shows that we as a nation are no longer ignoring the issues homosexuals face and are willing to fight for their first amendment rights. As someone who is an activist for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transvestites this is great progress in a long and hard struggle to provide individuals and couples who are homosexual with the same rights as individuals and couples who are heterosexual.This gives me hope that in the near future we as a nation will be less discriminative towards someone because of his or her sexual orientation. It also instills in me that my children will grow up in a more diverse society where they want be judge for who they are, but instead for the thing they can do.  

If you are interested in more on this topic , please check out the HBO documentary The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.