Military Ready to Undo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?"

Image from source, Think Progress

Imagine for a second an alternate universe, where the United States military had no prohibition against homosexuals in their ranks. And further suppose that gay rights groups started lobbying for the right to exempt themselves from duty, even during a draft. By mere fact of their sexuality, they argue that they should not have to serve.

How well do you think such a scenario would go over? And yet, though we currently have no draft, we have a severely overstretched military that routinely ejects able-bodied, willing gay soldiers for the sole reason that they are gay. The argument has been that an "out" homosexual in the ranks would destroy unit cohesion. In other words, non-gay soldiers (or closeted ones) would be wigged out by the very presence of gay people, and would be unsuitable for battle. . .or something. Something about showering and bunk beds, it's all rather juvenile, and very telling by the theory's adherents.

But it turns out our military may be a little more enlightened than that. Jerry Falwell must be rolling in his grave (provided it is an extra large casket).

[Excerpt]

Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen: Military Ready To Accept Repeal Of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’

For quite some time, U.S. troops have supported repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. A December 2006 poll of servicemembers who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan found 73 percent of those polled were “comfortable with lesbians and gays.” A 2004 poll found that a majority of junior enlisted servicemembers believed gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, up from 16 percent in 1992. . .

Read more at: Think Progress