This week’s congressional hearings about removing the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy reminded me of a story I did several years ago. Having not listened to these stories in quite some time, it was really shocking to realize that John McCain and others in today’s sound bites are just parroting rhetoric that has been present and proliferated throughout the military ranks for some time now.
A look at “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Part 1: The Policy – Oct. 10, 2003 listen to story
The political and social climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals in America has improved over the past decade.
The supreme court recently struck down anti-sodomy laws in Texas… Vermont now allows civil unions between homosexual partners… and openly gay individuals are able to hold elected public office.
But one system very set in the ways of old is the military: don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t harass and don’t pursue when it comes to homosexuals.
Part 2: The Person – Oct. 11, 2003 listen to story
October 11 is National Coming Out Day for Americans who are homosexual, bisexual or transgendered. WCHL’s Adam Geller talks with a UNC student who decided to come out of the closet last year.
Some day, we’ll look back with amazement that we ever had an institutionalized form of a communication gap in the military:
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