After nearly two decades, the policy banning open homosexuality in the military, commonly known as ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ was repealed Monday. Service members can now freely reveal their sexuality without fear of investigation or military release.

The policy was enacted in 1993 under the Clinton administration and was voted to be revoked by Congress last year. ‘Repeal Day’ celebrations and parties are being held across the country in honor of the gay rights victory.

The policy mandated that people identifying themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender would be allowed to serve in the military as long as they do not openly reveal their sexual orientation. Commanders and officers, in turn, would not inquire into any individual’s sexuality.

The military has been accepting applications from citizens who are openly gay for several weeks and, with the new law in effect, recruiters are welcoming them.

meltagou@syr.edu

The Daily Orange asked the experts: Could the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ lead to greater tolerance of the LGBT community?

‘I do believe that repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ liberates LGBTQ military personnel and their loved ones from the closet of silence in which this gag order enclosed them for over a decade. It enables them to voice their identities, to say ‘I am,’ without threat of official or unofficial retribution. I hope that, more broadly, it indicates a repeal of the cultural ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ ethos that makes it difficult to hear or discuss LGBTQ identities.’

William Robert, LGBT studies professor

‘I think the end of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is a great achievement for gay rights. The military — an important national institution — will no longer discriminate against gay and lesbian service members, and that will increase knowledge and tolerance in American society more broadly. But there is still a long way to go to achieve civil and social equality for LGBT Americans.’

Carol Faulkner, professor of U.S. women, gender, sexuality and social movements at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

 

Published on September 20, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Marwa: meltagou@syr.edu | @marwaeltagouri