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rexchanna
07-08-2009, 12:34 AM
Being the social activists you all are, you may have already heard about Lt. Dan Choi and the abomination that is the U.S. Army's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

If not, here's the lowdown:

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is the government's current stance on homosexuality in the armed forces. Under this policy, the powers that be will not ask a service member of their sexual orientation, but neither can the service member in question be open about it. Any gay or lesbian personnel must stay in the closet or risk discharge from service. Being open about homosexuality is a valid reason for being discharged from service.

Recently, Lieutenant Daniel Choi, who has served ten years in the military and a very proficient Arab translators in the military in a time where America is operating heavily in the Middle-East, was recommended to be discharged from the Army for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He still waits for approval of this decision, and in the mean time has decided to fight against Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Below is a link to a petition to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asking her to make the repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell a priority in Congress. If you believe in equality and justice, please read this petition and consider signing.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/RepealDADT

Crazy Like a Fawkes
07-08-2009, 12:52 AM
I signed it.

Stephen Colbert did a segment on the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy while he was in Iraq.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/229904/june-09-2009/formidable-opponent---don-t-ask--don-t-tell

Lance
07-08-2009, 12:55 AM
I signed this, and am forwarding this to all my friends. I'm so glad to know about this. If we can't serve openly for our country, then what does that say about our country? It means that our country thinks that being LGBT is shameful. This policy is awful, and I recommend you all go sign that thing immediately!

Mikkiness
07-08-2009, 01:12 AM
Already done, will any americans mind if I say that your country is a little messed up? That policy is really stupid.

Catty-the-spy
07-08-2009, 01:33 AM
Here's an American agreeing with you, Mikkiness. Whoever came up with it didn't really think things through.

Elle
07-08-2009, 01:52 AM
Signed and am in the process of forwarding. We've made such progress in the last few years, and Don't Ask, Don't Tell seems horribly old-fashioned and making all of our other accomplishments into 1 step forward, 1 step back deals.

And no, Mikki, I'm not offended. I agree 100%.

Terry Shayar
07-08-2009, 03:02 PM
You really have such a policy in the US? But why? It seems so....illogical. As Spock would say. I'm signing the petition as well. Your government needs to stop being so hypocritical...


... no offence to all Americans here. You're all great people.

TheBrownRecluse
07-08-2009, 03:44 PM
Oh don't worry, our government is highly illogical, a fact that frustrates the hell out of most if not all of us.

rexchanna
07-08-2009, 11:30 PM
You really have such a policy in the US? But why? It seems so....illogical. As Spock would say. I'm signing the petition as well. Your government needs to stop being so hypocritical...


... no offence to all Americans here. You're all great people.

Yeah, it's pretty screwy. The history behind it is this:

For a long time, homosexuals were oppressed in the military. Gay men in service were severely discriminated against to the point of discharge from service just for being gay. However, this was all to the discretion of their superiors.

While campaigning for presidency, Bill Clinton promised to stop discrimination in the military. So once he was in office, the issue came forward to Congress fairly quickly. However, there were a lot of opposing forces (stupid politicians) and the compromise of Don't Ask Don't Tell was born.

Theoretically, this meant gays wouldn't be discriminated against, because nobody would know they were gay. Because they weren't allowed to let anyone know they were gay. What the legislature writers didn't think about was that hiding their sexual orientation is really a worse discrimination than what had been going on. Especially since if someone did come out as gay under DADT, well, it was all over for his or her career. :/