Protestors gathered outside of the District Court Office on Washington Street. on Saturday, Oct. 2 in response to the lack of government action in repealing the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. The law prevents openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from participating in the military service.
Meredith Gasco, an NMU student, organized the protest. Gasco is president of OUTLook, one of NMU’s two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered organizations on campus. Some OUTLook members were present, as well as other NMU students, high school students and community members. Gasco estimates that there were between 20 and 25 protesters at the busiest point.
“My main goal was awareness and visibility, and I think we achieved that,” Gasco said.
The protestors faced some negative reactions from passersby. However, despite the occasional negative reaction, most of the responses they received were positive.
“We got a lot of horn honks and thumbs ups,” Gasco said.
The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was part of the Defense Authorization Act, which received only 56 of the 60 votes in the senate required to pass into law. The subject will not be reintroduced until after the November senate elections.
Gasco, who has close relationships with members of the armed forces, calls DADT “outdated” and essentially “job discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
Supporters of DADT worry that if it is repealed, military effectiveness and morale will decrease. Gasco disagrees.
“If you’re gay in the military, you have to live with the fear of being investigated and discharged. You have to lie about your relationships. If you are being investigated or discharged, you risk losing your military benefits and pay … I think that harms cohesion and morale way more than having an openly gay person in the unit would,” Gasco said.
She also pointed out the stress that DADT can cause to friends and family of homosexual servicemen and women, who must keep relationship information they know under wraps.
“They’re forced to live with this 24/7 silence,” Gasco said.
Despite setbacks, she remains optimistic that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell could be repealed in the near future. “The people against (repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) are a really vocal minority…. It’s just a matter of waiting for attitudes to change,” Gasco said.
Meredith • Oct 18, 2010 at 4:05 pm
To I heart Ellen:
Amanda Cook misphrased the voting comment a little. The Senate needed 60 votes to defeat the filibuster and move forward to debate the bill, not to pass it into law.
Also, while DADT does not FORCE witch-hunts of GLB soldiers, it has been abused. There are plenty of stories from soldiers who were discharged after they had their private e-mails or cell phones searched, and until this past summer any third party could out a gay soldier to a commander and get them discharged. (Google Major Mike Almy from the Air Force for an example of command snooping in people’s e-mail.)
As far as your claim that GLB soldiers did not live in fear of investigation of your units, how do you know? Did they tell you specifically that they were gay and weren’t afraid of DADT? The gay soldiers I know, and the ones who have been brave enough to share their voices either anonymously online or publicly, do live in fear of investigation. This policy needs to be repealed, and the US military needs to follow the example of other industrialized, first-world militaries (such as the British armed forces, the Canadian armed forces, and the IDF) and allow GLB soldiers to serve their country openly.
I heart Ellen • Oct 12, 2010 at 2:29 pm
It is apparent that Ms. Cook is unfamiliar with military operating procedure, DADT history and application, and the general rules of our Senate.
First, aren’t laws passed by a majority vote? A 51-49 vote could have settled the issue, if Sen. John McCain hadn’t filibustered. He was the reason the vote could not move forward; he, two Democrats, and the independent Senators who also voted against the repeal. 60 votes are required to force the issue without debate. 56 votes opens the floor to discussion (filibuster).
Next, we should remember how DADT got here. This is a Pres. Clinton order that was designed to improve the anti-homosexual regulations in the armed forces. It has been the brunt of jokes since its inception. It has not, however, forced witch hunt investigations. In fact, it is against the regulation for a commander to initiate an investigation unless, basically, credible evidence is dropped in their lap.
As a commander, there is enough on your plate. You do not need to go snooping in people’s private lives or bedrooms. As long as the barracks are safe, there is little interest in what happens off duty. The only reason I could imagine that DADT may come into play is if a person is trying to get discharged, or there are other discipline and conduct issues.
GLB soldiers did not live in fear of investigation or punishment in my units (harassing comments or jokes from peers are another issue altogether). There are plenty of GLB service members honorably serving in all branches of the armed forces. Clinton muddied the waters. Obama doesn’t have the background (or backbone) to help. This is what happens when civilian ideologue politicians play army. Maybe someone will ask the military what they need to fix the issue once and for all.