10/12/2009

The debate over gays in the U.S. military will heat up after the release last week of a study showing that women in uniform are more likely to be discharged from the military under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

It's a head-scratching finding that wasn't foreseen with the 1993 policy, which says gays cannot be investigated or punished as long as they do not reveal their sexual orientation.

It's a good time to reopen the debate because there are changing attitudes towards gays, both in American society and in the military.

Consider Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wrote a 2007 opinion piece for The New York Times stating that he had changed his mind about the policy and now supports gays openly serving in the military.

Shalikashvili said he held meetings with gays in the U.S. armed forces, including combat troops and an "openly gay senior sailor who was serving effectively as a member of a nuclear submarine crew."

His conclusion was that attitudes have changed and that "gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers," and gays can serve openly without hurting military effectiveness.

Shalikashvili also quoted a Zogby poll of 500 troops returning from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, where three-quarters said they were comfortable serving with gays. And he reminded readers that 24 other nations allow gays to serve openly and none report problems with recruitment or morale. Those nations include respected military forces of Israel and Britain.

The debate reminds us of similar arguments against women serving in traditionally male roles in the military: It would hurt morale; distract male soldiers; and reduce a unit's ability to perform its mission.

Those fears haven't proven true. The same will be found when the U.S. military changes its policies towards gays and lesbians.

-- Tom Bell

Editor & Publisher

822-1491

tbell@salina.com