A day before Lt. Dan Choi, of Tustin, faces a hearing in which he may be thrown out of the military for being openly gay, President Barack Obama addressed the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward homosexuals. And while gay activists, including Choi, have been urging Obama to uphold his campaign promise to rescind the policy, it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen right away.
“I believe ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ doesn’t contribute to our national security,” Obama said today in this speech in recognition of gay pride month. “In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.
He said he is working with the Pentagon and Congress to bring an end to the policy and allow openly gay men and women to serve in the military. But he indicated that will take some time.
Click here to read about Choi and his hearing tomorrow.
“I believe ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ doesn’t contribute to our national security,” Obama said today in this speech in recognition of gay pride month. “In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.
Don’t ask, Don’t tell doesn’t prevent patriotic Americans from serving their country; it simply requires that homosexuals not be open about their sexual preferences. Is that fair? I don’t know. For Dan Choi, fair is not the issue. What I do know is the policy doesn’t stop anyone from serving who want to serve. The policy didn’t stop Dan from serving - not following the rule he agreed to follow is preventing him from serving.
Jcw, I have to agree with you. When I was in the military 1967 to 72 Homosexuals were beaten up. I do believe they should have the right to serve and I believe President Clinton’s policy of don’t ask don’t tell is correct. Most EM’s live in a room with 30 other men and its a macho organization. If they keep their sexual preference off the base, I see no problem, but on the base when you must work together I see big problems.
I was in the military 65-69 and we lived all cramped up on board a ship. We had one gay guy in our Dept. and he took a shower by himself. We didn’t need him checking us out in the shower. Now you can say what you want but I dont care for there life style and dont need them checking me out in the shower. So my vote for Dan would be a Bad Conduct Discharge and not because he is gay, but for not following the rules.