No Need to Ask, Because Now They CAN Tell

Sep 20, 2011
Mary Thankam Walker

Here's to a more free U.S.A.! - freefoto.com

As promised by the Obama Administration, the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is no more as of September 20, 2011.

Former President Bill Clinton had sparked controversy across the nation and in both houses of Congress when he attempted to get the military ban on gay individuals lifted. After much debate, Congress passed Public Law 103-160 in 1993. It is at a basic level still a homosexual exclusion law, but allows for the impression of less prejudice by specifying that there has to be overt comments or actions by the military person indicating homosexual or bisexual status or intent to engage in such acts. In other words, they should not state nor say if homosexuality is in any way a part of their identity, and as the same law prohibits coercion in matters related in ways to implying, endorsing, or soliciting admission of homosexual intent. It is a lot more word-y but the gist of the law being a response to Clinton's initial suggestion of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and virtual repeat of this statement despite the actual wording of the law earned it the unofficial Don't Ask, Don't Tell label.

Thinly Veiled Perpetuation of the Military's Homosexual Ban

The law fast became a joke, not only in implementation, but also in wording (there was no technical change in the homosexual prohibition simply a unstated encouragement to keep it secret better). Essentially insult had been added to legal injury. The law had a long stretch on the books, however. Since Clinton's attempt to bring more freedom to homosexuals who want to serve their country was followed by two terms of a Republican Executive Office (G. W. Bush), there was no further executive attempts to loosen the fetters of the gay and patriotic population.

Obama's Administration Brings in its Wake a Repeal of all the Asking & Telling

Anyone born in 1993 within the U.S. will have reached the year of legal adulthood this year of 2011 and the end of Public Law 103-160. Tuesday September 20, 2011 marks the official end of the Public Law's stint on the law books as it has been officially repealed. As celebrity talk show host and comedian Ellen Degeneres remarked on Twitter.com during the early afternoon of this historic Tuesday, “Don't Ask Don't Tell is officially over. It's a good day.”

Military persons discharged because of this law, may now, if they wish, reenlist. Zachary Bauer is a proud Navy veteran. He is also a gay man and is Director of Operations for the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center. He was one of many discharged from service after the passage of Public Law 103-160. Feeling called to serve his nation he enlisted but served only 3 years. Though he does not feel called to reenlist now that he can, he still fondly reminisced to Freedom Communications, “The proudest moment was wearing that uniform. I would have stayed in, absolutely I would have stayed in. There's no greater honor than serving one's country.”