One of the items in the news lately is on the possibility that new President Obama may push strongly for the repeal or elimination of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law that allows Gays to serve in the military but requires them to hide their sexual orientation and dismisses them from service if they do let their orientation be known.
Reportedly Obama will proceed somewhat more cautiously and slowly than did the last Democrat President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. Clinton pushed hard -- despite heavy objection from the military services -- for allowing openly gay individuals to serve without restriction. Unfortunately he caused a firestorm of controversy given that the military tends to be much more conservative than the U.S. populace would be. Military leaders have to concern themselves that by having gay troops openly serve they could wind up with problems from others that bring their biases and bigotry into service with them. Troops that don't wish to serve with gay persons could flee the military or could make trouble with gay troops that wish to serve with either causing disruptions and distractions to troop cohesion, problems that could lead to disastrous consequences in the heat of active military conflict.
Over 15 years have passed since Don't Ask, Don't Tell became the law of the land and the rules have changed along the way, but the question is just how much? Should gay persons be allowed to serve openly? Should the law be changed to Don't Ask, but don't boot if they do tell?
If the law is changed, will it harm our military readiness or will the benefits outweigh the potential costs? You all tell me please. I may share more of my thoughts on the topic over the course of the discussion, but in reality I'm more interested -- at least currently -- in what others think.
