WASHINGTON -- On Sunday, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry waved the white flag on allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, telling ABC’s "This Week" that “the horse is out of the barn” on that particular policy.
Considering the time that’s lapsed since the end of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" -- and the absence of the moral decay critics predicted would take place -- he’s right. No lawmaker of actual consequence is advocating for the reinstitution of the policy.
But Perry’s statement is more than just an acknowledgement of reality. It’s a quiet moderation on his part and, more broadly, an illustration of how social progress can be measured not just by the growing number of people advocating the cause but by the softening tone of its opposition.
In 2012, Perry authorized one of the most highly criticized ads of the Republican primary, in which he questioned why gay soldiers could serve openly but children “can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school.” Even by that time, this was stepping out on a political limb. And his campaign subtly let it be known that several aides had been skeptical of the message. Perry’s pollster had reportedly called it “nuts.”
It turned out the emails were for show, tactfully released to present a softer side to the campaign. More emails released after Perry flamed out showed that everyone eventually got behind the script. At 6 percent in the polls, they threw whatever they could against the wall, even if it tore down gay and lesbian service members.
Four years later, Perry won’t be making the same ad. And for that, some prominent gay Republican operatives are enjoying a victory lap.
“The country has moved on issues relating to sexual orientation, and it’s moved very fast,” Jimmy LaSalvia, former head of GOProud, emailed The Huffington Post. “The GOP has to recognize that or be left in the past. Perry seems to be making some baby steps toward joining the rest of us in 2015.”
Before You Go
