U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a defense-spending bill that included a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, in a disgraceful move that placed partisan politics above the rights of gay Americans and the strength of the U.S. military.
Preventing patriotic citizens from having the honor of serving their country acts as an impediment to their enjoying the basic principals afforded to American citizens.
Since the policy's inception in 1993, 13,000 men and women have been discharged from the armed forces because of their sexual orientation. Stopping that many people from contributing to our military in a time of conflict is not just discriminatory, but irresponsible. Narrow-mindedness of this kind must not be tolerated in this day and age.
Proponents of maintaining the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, under which the military bars openly gay people from its ranks, relentlessly argue that, from a practical standpoint, the law should not be repealed because doing so would lead to disruptions in military cohesiveness and lower troop morale. Yet countless studies conducted over the years, backed by organizations such as the American Psychological Association, prove otherwise.
Studies show that the 20-plus militaries worldwide that allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly — like Canada's and Israel's — have not suffered negative impacts as a result of their unbiased policies.
A repeal of the U.S. military's policy even has the personal backing of Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also supports President Barack Obama's push for reform.
Not only does the policy punish Americans willing to serve, but it weakens our military at a crucial time.
Preposterously, around 60 Arabic translators have been discharged under the policy. With those translators high in demand and short in supply — and, of course, a necessity in Iraq — allowing this unjust policy to get in the way of the productivity and effectiveness of the armed forces is an absurdity that must be reversed.
Despite this empirical evidence, many continue to argue vehemently in support of the policy. And the constant desire of many to prevent change from taking place stems from more than just archaic attitudes.
Political squabbling has, sadly, drowned out the logical and moral arguments for overturning the ban.
The Republicans who filibustered the spending bill on Tuesday — led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — claim that they had to stop the bill because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) did not allow additional amendments and because the repeal would be premature.
These tenuous excuses mask the GOP's own politicization of the issue, which may have sunk the best attempt to repeal the policy for the foreseeable future. Republicans were more likely worried about handing the Democrats a legislative victory ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The fact that the political climate is such that it is not possible for lawmakers to eradicate this discriminatory policy is embarrassing for the United States of America. Republican legislators should be ashamed of themselves.
