DADT: Memorial Day Marks 70 Years of Discrimination Against Gay Service Members

[w8liftinglady]

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/dadt-memorial-day-marks-70-years-of-discrimination-against-gay-service-members/discrimination/2011/05/30/21044

Today marks Memorial Day, a somber day in American life when we honor the service of those who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the people of the United States of America. This Memorial Day also bitterly marks the 70th year in American history in which government-​sanctioned discrimination continues to be enforced against gays and lesbians serving in military. Contrary to what too many believe, the policy and practice of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) remains in place until the repeal is fully implemented.

Memorial Day also reminds that today is the 159th day since President Barack Obama signed the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law, which forces gay and lesbian service members to remain in the military closet, stripped of their right to speak freely about their lives, or face a punitive discharge from the military because of their sexual orientation.

Since 1941 millions of gay and lesbian Americans have served, despite various incantations of the same gay ban — “homosexuality is incompatible with military service” – policy which remained in place during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada and Panama actions, Desert Storm, and through the Kosovo humanitarian intervention.

President Bill Clinton called DADT “an honorable compromise,” in 1993, when we lost the effort to repeal the gay ban. Thus, this Memorial Day also marks the 18th year of DADT as the policy of our government. That fact infuriates me.

We are now entering the sixth month since President Obama proclaimed the somewhat misleading words “It is done!” which he uttered when he ceremoniously signed the repeal bill, witnessed by 500 veterans activists and members of Congress who had worked years for its repeal. It feels as if we witnessed a bizarre version of “Kabuki” theater, myself having attended the signing ceremony of the repeal of DADT to such pomp and circumstance.

[Ken Burch]

1. What was left of "DADT repeal" shows once again

That you can't have a "compromise" on justice and rights issues. If you don't get full victory, it's defeat.

If this administration had been negotiating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they would have settled for people of color not having to sit more than one-third of the way back in the bus and being allowed within ten feet of the "Whites-only" restrooms.