“Don’t ask don’t Tell” policy should be repealed in United States by Trisakti Agriani.

It is estimated that in America 2-13% of the population is homosexual. There has been much debate and controversy over homosexuality especially legally and morally. However, since the 1960s, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) have gained more recognition and rights with movements and many gay people have become celebrities and political leaders and even become military army."Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. Or in other word, this kind of act prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. Therefore by the prohibition of LGBT through The Policy of Don’t asks don’t tell we argue that the policy should be repealed in order to uphold the LGBT in America by considering on the dignity, freedom of choice and respect point.

Homosexuals have the equal rights as heterosexuals. This is proved in the fact that “seventeen states, including Wisconsin and the District of Columbia already have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and seven, plus the district, ban discrimination based on gender identity”... Legalizing same-sex marriage had been become recognition of basic American principles since 1996, and would represent the culmination of United States commitment to equal rights. Therefore seeing the condition of status quo right now that legalizing same-sex marriage are admitted, by the government of United States prohibits the LGBT movement through Don’t ask don’t tell policy it means that the government has violated the human right itself.

In 1778, the United States Constitution established one of the most important documents in United States history named The Bill of Rights. Its ideas are an essential part of American culture. Although it is only 462 words long it provides for many right and freedom. And the most important thing it becomes the symbol and basic foundation of USA itself. Moreover in terms of LGBT case, Twenty-eight nations have helped same-sex couples keep their commitments. For the United States to lag behind so many other nations contradicts its own history and principles. Same-sex couples can marry under legislation passed in Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, and The Netherlands. Such couples have many of the protections of marriage in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. And they have at least some protections in Andorra, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, and Switzerland. That’s 28 nations ahead of the United States in keeping promises and helping couples keep their own promises. From this fact, we can consider that actually United States has a big important rule in this world deals with permission of same-sex couples marriage. Therefore, if the government doesn’t repeal this policy it means that it is very backlash with the nature of American fundamental system which follows Democratic Country and also backlash with American’s dream which eager to reach pursue of happiness toward all citizen.   

When the opponents come up with the idea that actually by implemented this policy, the government has already considered with the standards and regulation of military readiness, military effectiveness, and unit cohesion as soldier to secure the citizen itself. The government thinks that the presence of LGBT army in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability. However we argue that actually troops should be judged on their ability not their sexual orientation. As President Barack Obama said in a January 2009 statement to the Stars and Stripes military newspaper, "The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve (not sexual orientation)." In addition A 2006 Zogby International poll of military members found that 72% of respondents who had experience with gays or lesbians in their unit said that the presence of gay or lesbian unit members had either no impact or a positive impact on their personal morale, while 67% said as much for overall unit morale. 73% of respondents said that they felt comfortable in the presence of gay and lesbian personnel. Moreover it would strengthen the relations of Gay relations, especially inside a hardened place like the military could be beneficial. In some ways, this could be a glance to the benefits of having women around men as a means of maintaining decorum. It would also strengthen honesty and trust between fellow soldiers, as gays would no longer have to lie about their sexuality. Therefore "Don't ask, don't tell" completely ignores performance, judging and even discarding soldiers based on their entirely irrelevant sexual orientation. A good military should be a have a sense to secure, rewarding good achievement and ability. "Don't ask don't tell" fails to live up to this notion, and surely suffers in its quality as a result. Troops should be judged on performance, not on their sexual orientation. "There are potential lessons to learn from other countries that have lifted the ban on homosexuals serving openly. There was no mass exodus of heterosexuals, and there was also no mass “coming-out” of homosexuals. Prior to lifting their bans, in Canada 62 percent of servicemen stated that they would refuse to share showers with a gay soldier, and in the United Kingdom, two-thirds of males stated that they would not willingly serve in the military if gays were allowed. In both cases, after lifting their bans, the result was 'no-effect.'44 In a survey of over 100 experts from Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom, it was found that all agreed the decision to lift the ban on homosexuals had no impact on military performance, readiness, cohesion, or ability to recruit or retain, nor did it increase the HIV.

Applying “don’t ask don’t tell “policy only create discrimination toward the LGBT people itself, and when the government applied this, it means that the government are backlash  with the government foundation that desire to uphold the freedom of speech and freedom of choice for their citizen itself. Moreover for addition, when the government are repealed this policy it means that they approach aspire to liberal political goals of freedom and equal opportunity, and aim to join the political mainstream on the same level as other groups in society.

References :

·         Robert Maginnis. "Gays in the Military Debate". Human Events. October 4, 2007. Retrieved on April 3, 2012 from http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26228.

·         Barry M. Goldwater. "Ban on Gays is Senseless Attempt to Stall the Inevitable. Retrieved on April 3,2012 from http://cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/bulgarians/barry-goldwater.html

·         Kenneth Jost. “Repealing don’t ask don’t tell with the presidential pen”. October 8, 2009. Retrieved on April 4, 2012  from http://jostonjustice.blogspot.com/2009/10/repealing-dont-ask-dont-tell-with.html

·         Matlovich Leonard.”Don’t ask don’t tell just act”. Emerald Editorial Board. October 15, 2009. Retrieved on April 4,2012 from http://www.dailyemerald.com/opinion/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-just-act-1.777975

·         Om Prakash.”The efficacy of Don’t ask don’t tell “.Winning Essay of the 2009 Secretary of defense national security Essay Competition. Retrieved on April 4 2012 from http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Press/jfq_pages/editions/i55/14.pdf

·         John Shalikashvili. "Second Thoughts on Gays in the Military". New York Times. January 2,2007. Retrieved on April 4 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/02/opinion/02shalikashvili.html

·         Lawrence J. Korb. "The Costs of Don't Ask Don't Tell". Center for American Progress. March 2, 2009 .Retrieved on April 4 2012 from http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/03/dont_ask_dont_tell.html