The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: Don’t Be Fooled

By Doug Carlson - Jun 9, 2009 - 1 -

In a small victory for pro-family America and her armed forces, the Supreme Court has turned down a request to review the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that bars homosexuals from serving openly in the military. The struggle to prevent a further loosening of military policies on sexual orientation would seem to be settled once and for all. But the battle is only beginning.

If you agree, please tell your representative to oppose H.R. 1283, as well as any other bill that would allow homosexuals to serve in the military.

With the support of President Obama, efforts are underway on Capitol Hill to use the legislative process to allow homosexuals, lesbians, and bisexuals to join the military ranks with full disclosure of their lifestyle. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) is sponsoring a bill that would overturn the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy enacted by then-President Bill Clinton. More significantly, it would reverse a law passed in 1993 forbidding homosexuals from serving in the military. The title of Tauscher’s bill could hardly be more deceptive: the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 1283). Who could be against improving military readiness?

But troop morale and readiness for combat would actually weaken, not strengthen, under a policy of open homosexuality. That has long been the military’s position.

What some people do not know is that the 1993 law and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are not the same things. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” allows homosexuals to serve in the military as long as they don’t disclose their sexuality. It is a directive—not codified law.

The 1993 law, by contrast, reaffirms longstanding military policy, laying out 15 reasons why homosexuals should not be permitted in the military. Among them is that homosexuals “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 law also acknowledges that “there is no constitutional right to serve in the armed forces” and that military conditions “are often spartan, primitive, and characterized by forced intimacy with little or no privacy.” This law barring homosexuals from the military remains on the books today.

Those closest to the issue, the military, are not supportive of the Tauscher bill. A Military Times poll in December found that 58 percent of active servicemen and women opposed overturning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Nearly 10 percent said, “I would not re-enlist or extend my service” if the policy is overturned. Furthermore, more than 1,100 retired Flag & General Officers for the Military recently sent a letter to President Obama and Congress stating their belief that the 1993 law that bans homosexuals from serving in the military “deserves continued support.” The Tauscher bill will undermine the morale of the U.S. military and severely weaken our national security.

If you agree, please tell your representative to oppose H.R. 1283, as well as any other bill that would allow homosexuals to serve in the military.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Sexual Purity, Homosexuality, Citizenship, National, War

• Subscribe
• Donate
• Feeds & Podcasts
• Internships

Recently

• As the House moves to a vote, Dr. Richard Land affirms his opposition to health care bill
• ERLC Letter Urges Congress to Oppose Health Care Bill
• Rewriting the Rules to ‘Pass’ Health Care Reform
• LIFE DIGEST: Shooter of pro-lifer found guilty of murder
• Land: Baptists have religious liberty legacy