Foes, fans have plenty to say about 'don't ask, don't tell'

An overview by military leaders of the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals serving in the armed forces could mean another chance to serve for Jamie Smith.

Ms. Smith left the Air Force after six years of service, in part because she could not live openly as a gay woman and still serve her country.

"I knew that to come out would be an issue and to come out while in the military would mean a discharge," she said.

Ms. Smith left the Air Force as a staff sergeant with an honorable discharge. If the policy were repealed, she said, she would rejoin the ranks once she finishes school.

"I would join back up immediately," she said.

While President Barack Obama told the American public in his Jan. 27 State of the Union address that he would "work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law," he faces opposition from various groups and lawmakers.

"At a time when we are asking our fighting men and women to take on so many challenges around the world, it is not in the nation's best interest to overturn this policy," said U.S. Rep Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.

Melinda Morgan, operations director of Georgia Equality and an Air Force veteran, disagreed.

"I actually think quite the contrary," she said. "At a time when we are in the middle of two wars and our military is stretched thin with critical job skills, now is the time to revisit this and at least ask the question, 'What sense does this make?'"

13,500 departures

Under the federal law, 13,500 openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members have been discharged from the military, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

A Government Accountability Office report published in 2004 showed a cost of $190 million to recruit and train replacements for those discharged under the law between 1993 and 2003.

Elaine Donnelly, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Military Readiness, said repealing the law would "create a hostile work environment" for all sides.

"No one has proven that this is being done for reasons of military necessity," she said.

By allowing gays to serve openly, those who do not agree with homosexuality would be forced out of service, either by conscience or by a "zero tolerance policy," she said.

"What about the people who send their sons and daughters to serve?" she said. "Their views should not be disregarded. If we do disregard the views of that faction, we would certainly hurt recruiting."

Retired Gen. B.B. Bell, a 39-year Army veteran and former head of U.S. Forces Korea, said that, if the correct policies were implemented, a repeal of the law is possible.

"What we will have to do, however, just like we do with heterosexuals, is have rules and regulations that make certain that good order and discipline (are) not compromised," he said.

Gen. Bell worked closely with NATO allies while leading forces in Europe and with United Nations counterparts in Korea. He said that issues did not arise with militaries that allow openly gay members to serve, such as Canada, Great Britain and Australia.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Cmdr. Bill Sandberg in Fort Oglethorpe said changing the policy would not do any good.

"Why should we create a problem if we can avoid one?" he said. "There might be gay bashing. We need to avoid hostility as much as possible."

Ms. Morgan said that argument doesn't give the military the "credit they deserve."

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICYA member of the armed forces shall be separated from the armed forces under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense if one or more of the following findings is made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations:(1) That the member has engaged in, attempted to engage in, or solicited another to engage in a homosexual act or acts unless there are further findings, made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations, that the member has demonstrated that(A) such conduct is a departure from the member's usual and customary behavior;(B) such conduct, under all the circumstances, is unlikely to recur;(C) such conduct was not accomplished by use of force, coercion, or intimidation;(D) under the particular circumstances of the case, the member's continued presence in the armed forces is consistent with the interests of the armed forces in proper discipline, good order, and morale; and(E) the member does not have a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts.As a standing federal law, both houses of the U.S. Congress would have to pass a bill to repeal the law and the president then would have to sign the bill to change federal policy.Source: U.S. Code

"Those who claim that lifting the ban will damage morale seriously underestimate service members," she said.

As the debate goes on and military leaders review the policy, veterans such as Ms. Smith wait.

Because of age restrictions, there is a short window in which Ms. Smith can rejoin the Air Force if the law is repealed.

"I definitely think it will be repealed," she said.

"Given the current deployment of American service members in hostile areas throughout the world, I question the wisdom of even considering a change to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' as I believe such a policy shift would represent an unnecessary risk to unit cohesiveness and morale during a time of war."

-- U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

"The American military is the world's premier fighting force, and reversing the policy could lead to unintended consequences that profoundly impact our country's ability to effectively respond to crises. ... I think the live-and-let-live policy is not a bad policy to adhere to, and that's what we have in place in the military with 'don't ask, don't tell' right now."

-- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

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