IN Toronto magazine

NEWS:

New law still needs Obama’s blessing

Gay men and lesbians serving in the US military may receive an early Christmas present this year – the US senate has voted to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a 17-year-old policy that prohibits gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the US military.

The landmark ruling was announced Dec 18 after the Senate voted 18-13 to end the policy that has allowed gay men and lesbians to serve only if they remain silent about their sexual orientation. The controversial piece of legislation was adopted by Bill Clinton’s administration in 1993.

“Pretty much all the heated discussion is over and now it’s a matter of the more mundane aspects of implementing the law,” said Peter Mansoor, a retired Army colonel who commanded a brigade in Iraq, in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. Mansoor told the AP that he believes commanders and soldiers in the US Armed Forces will accept the repeal.

But gay and lesbian soldiers wishing to come out publically aren’t in the clear just yet. Though viewed as a major step in the fight for equality, the repeal does not take effect until President Barack Obama signs the legislation into a law and until the Pentagon certifies to Congress that allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly won’t negatively impact soldiers in combat.

“Once this legislation is signed into law by the president, the Department of Defense will immediately proceed with the planning necessary to carry out this change carefully and methodically, but purposefully,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the AP.

Moreover, trans service members can still be discharged for being medically unfit, as “don’t ask, don’t tell” only relates to gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals, as stated in a release published by the US Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Still, gay activists are applauding the historic vote. “Today we stand taller declaring: ‘I am somebody,’” wrote human rights activist and former US army lieutenant Dan Choi on  Twitter. Choi was arrested in November for handcuffing himself to the fence of the White House during a protest against the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Pop singer Lady Gaga, who led a viral video campaign and rally against “don’t ask, don’t tell” last September, also expressed her excitement for the repeal. “Our voice was heard and today the Senate repealed DADT. A triumph for equality after 17 years,” tweeted Gaga, posting a photo of herself holding a sign reading “full equality.”  Celebrities Katy Perry, Ricky Martin, Ellen Degeneres and Kathy Griffin also led celebrations via Twitter.

According to a recent study conducted by the Pentagon, two-thirds of US service members believe that ending “don’t ask don’t tell” would not impact the effectiveness of the US military. Since 1993, more than 13,500 US service members have been dismissed under the ban.

In Canada, gay men, lesbians and bisexuals have been allowed to serve openly in the Armed Forces since 1992.