The Pentagon announced today that the military is ready to permit homosexuals to serve openly in the military, allowing President Obama to make an official end to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. As required by law, President Obama, Defense Secretary Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Mullen officially certified that the armed forces can integrate homosexual troops without harming recruitment, retention and readiness. By mid-September, “don’t ask don’t tell” (DADT), a law that denied 14,500 men and women the privilege of serving their country and robbed a nation at war of valuable talent, should be history.
A bill to repeal DADT was passed in December, 2010, but the policy remained in place until today, when the President, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certified that repeal will not harm military readiness or morale. Part of that law requires a 60-day waiting period following today's certification, during which time the Pentagon must work out issues such as the disposition of benefits to spouses, etc. Until then, gay and lesbian service members are urged not to come out or reveal that they are gay. That 60-day wait for the ultimate demise of DADT is nothing compared to the 18 years our nation condoned it. So bet it.
Today's certification was anticipated earlier this month, on July 6, when a ruling from a federal appeals court barred further enforcement of the U.S. military's ban on openly gay service members. Breathe a huge sigh of relief, and don't even try to blink back your tears. Tears of joy are a good thing.
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