Congress Must Repeal the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

This year, historic steps have been taken to end the misguided Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy. U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Philips declared the policy, and its deliberate exclusion of openly gay service members, a violation of the Constitution. The House included a repeal of DADT in its version of the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, a repeal for which I voted. The Pentagon released its long awaited study of the repeal's effect on service members, in which a clear majority of service members say the repeal will not harm the military.

A repeal of DADT should be accomplished legislatively, instead of through judicial decree. As an elected body, Congress has a great responsibility to move on a legislative repeal, without conditions. It is my hope that this discriminatory policy is ended soon.

Whenever anyone serves our country, regardless of their race, sex, socio-economic status, religion, or sexuality, we should honor and support their service, not force them to hide their identity in shame.

I am hopeful that after wise and thoughtful deliberation, the Senate will reconsider and pass a Defense Authorization Bill that includes a civil rights guarantee for those LGBT individuals who serve in our armed forces.

As Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I have ardently supported legislation that advances the rights of LGBT individuals, and I will continue to do so in the future. It is my hope that in conjunction with the Senate, and with the leadership of the President Obama, the DADT Policy will be repealed soon, and in full.

Rep Honda is the Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

 

Comments

[adam-Tahoma]

09:01 PM on 12/02/2010

The DADT policy is completely unconstitutional. We have the freedom of expression and speech, and so if someone is gay it shouldn't mean they cant defend this country with as much courage as a strait person. Our country gives them the right to be gay, and they want to defend that and the people they love here in this country. The military has no reason to not allow gays in their ranks. The only reason that being gay should pose a problem in the military is if the man/woman begins to express inappropriate behavior while in service, but that is something that a heterosexual person could do as well. Just because someone is homosexual doesn't mean they will act sexually in service, it simply is their personal preference, a preference that the military does let a heterosexual express to a woman/man while in service either. Yet a heterosexual man/woman may enter the military, so why cant a gay man/woman?

[Jdaddy1951]

01:40 PM on 12/02/2010

Thank you, Rep. Honda. Good luck to you and to all gay and gay supportive people.