The 17 year old Don't Ask, Don't Tell rule which required patriotic gay Americans who risk their lives for our nation not tell anyone that they are gay or face consequences from military brass has ended.
The story of Don't Ask Don't Tell follows an over 200 year tradition of military discrimination against gays and lesbians. In fact, it was under George Washington's Continental Army during the Revolutionary War that the first individual was discharged for being gay. In 1778, Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin was discharged from the army for violating the U.S. military anti-sodomy code. George Washington called Enslin's actions "Abhorrence & Detestation of such Infamous Crimes" before the court martial tribunal. Enslin was then found guilty, dishonorably discharged, and shamed before the entire camp in a parade march down to the Schuylkill river where he was warned to never be seen in camp again.
For decades after, the military had a strong "No Gays in the Military" rule. Many in the military even went so far as to consider homosexuality a mental disease that could threaten the security of the nation if gays were allowed to serve. In 1950, the Congress, being backed by the Truman Administration, passed policies in the Uniform Code of Military Justice as to handle the discharge of gay soldiers (*giggle*). Throughout a majority of our history in this country the military was anti-gay even while gays were defending our freedoms and the President, acting as Commander-in-Chief, has had complete authority to uphold or repeal the ban. It wasn't until the 42nd President was elected before the anti-gay military culture was threatened.
The Jazz Man himself, Bill Clinton, had run on the idea of allowing gays to fully serve in our armed forces. Almost immediately after his election many conservative groups began to attack what they called Clinton's Pink Army. In order to keep Clinton from opening the way for gay/straight integration into the service the Republican controlled Congress began putting together a legislative package which would strip the President from having the power to allow gays to serve and then issue a blanket ban on gays in the military. However, a compromise between the conservative Congress and the Clinton White House was made. The compromise was that no gay soldier could serve and be open about their sexual orientation and in return the military won't seek out gays in the witch hunt fashion which they have been engaged in. This compromise became known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue". A provision of "Don't Harass" was later added to protect against anti-gay soldiers who took it upon themselves to weed out the gays in the military. But we all know this as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
Since it's inception DADT has been challenged several times. And in those times 4 federal courts upheld the legality of DADT despite the overwhelming evidence that the policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. But the winds of change began during the 2008 Presidential election.
Then Senator Barack Obama was very open about his intention to fight for a full repeal of DADT once he was elected President. Unfortunately for many gay service members the issues of economic recovery and health care took center stage throughout 2009 and a fourth of 2010. It could be seen as early as March 2010, however, that the Administration was not willing to allow the year to end with DADT still on the books.
At first the repeal was hidden within the Defense Authorization Act but captain homophobe himself John McCain led several Republicans to block it's passage. Then the White House organized studies to help appease fears of what a sexually integrated military would mean for America. An ending DADT survey was given to 400,000 service members asking them what they felt would happen if DADT was repealed. With the 100,000 that chose to respond, 70% said that they would "work together to get the job done." Republicans though issued a statement that the response was due largely because soldiers felt that DADT was dead in the water anyway. It became very clear that if Obama and the Democrats wanted the policy ended they would have to kill it with or without Republicans.
On December 16th, 2010, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called for a vote on the full repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Following the debate the measure passed 250-175. All eyes were on the Senate. Republicans were already preparing to filibuster the bill stating that they would not allow the Democrats to "weaken" our military by allowing gays to serve openly. In the end the homophobes lost. Though a filibuster was attempted, a cloture vote to open debate and vote on the repeal went to the floor after the filibuster was broken by a 63-33 vote in the early hours of December 18th, 2010.
The final vote to repeal was then tallied at 65-31. Six Republican Senators crossed the aisle to fight to end bigotry. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Olympia Snowe of Maine, and George Voinovich of Ohio. The bipartisan killing of this policy is what helps make this day an historic one.
Republicans are already stewing in their hate. Georgian Republican Saxby Chambliss attempted not to shoot bile from his fat over stuffed gullet by stating "This has nothing to do with gays and lesbians who have given valuable service to our military..." however he went on to agree that the ending of DADT will somehow weaken our armed forces.
The GOP is also now threatening that because they had to vote on both the DREAM Act and the repeal of DADT that they will do everything in their power to block a vote on the US-Russian nuclear non-proliferation treaty called the START Treaty. A treaty which has been seen as the greatest piece of nuclear non-proliferation legislation since Reagan and has been supported by former President George W. Bush.
Either way the politicians will bicker but today is a GREAT day for freedom and equality in America. Just another step toward the day when the LGBT community will be seen as part of our culture and not a subculture. The day when gays can be married and the day when America will elect it's first openly gay President.
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