The Military Is Ready for Lesbian and Gay Troops

Sen. John McCain gave an opening statement during today's Congressional hearings on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and during his comments he said that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been an "imperfect but effective" policy. Sen. McCain must have a curious definition of effective, since the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," has cost the U.S. military nearly 14,000 well-qualified soldiers, and has cost taxpayers close to $300 million in unnecessary expenses.

The premise behind Sen. McCain's comments is the thinking that with the U.S. fighting two wars, and under the strain of nearly a decade of combat, now is not the time for a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Sen. McCain, and many others who share his position, could not be more wrong.

Here's the simple fact, articulated by hundreds upon hundreds of military members: the American military is ready for lesbian, gay, and bisexual soldiers to serve openly.

Former U.S. Army paratrooper and Afghanistan Veteran D.B. Grady put it pretty resolutely. "Contrary to naysayers, the United States military is institutionally prepared today -- at this very moment -- for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Grady writes. He notes that the military has been quite effective in recent years at keeping a robust Military Equal Opportunity program that protects service members from discrimination based on gender, race, religion or national origin. Adding sexual orientation to that list really isn't going to stretch the military in any way, shape or form.

During today's hearings, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a plan to conduct a study to determine how best to move forward with allowing gay and lesbian troops to serve. The study, on the surface, seems like it's being done assuming that Congress moves forward with an eventual repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Is it a kick the can down the road moment? Good question. Some sure think it is, arguing that if it didn't take U.S. Congress years-worth of studies to move forward with health care legislation, then why should it take more studies to get Congress to act on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

But regardless of what one thinks of the delay, the star of the hearing today had to be Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Speaking in his personal capacity, Admiral Mullen said he fully supports a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"Allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do," Adm. Mullen said. "No matter how I look at this issue, I'm troubled by the fact that we have a policy that forces men and women to lie about who they are ... to me, personally, it comes down to integrity. Theirs as an individual, ours as an institution ... I never underestimate [our soldiers] ability to adapt."

Integrity. There's a word that, along with effective, a certain Senator from Arizona ought to go look up.

Photo credit: NYCMarines