By Anna Meany
If Lady Gaga feels compelled enough to speak, let us listen.
For 17 years, homosexual individuals serving in the military have been prohibited from disclosing their sexual orientation. Since the beginning of President Barack Obama’s term, he has pushed a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military policy.
This policy is a blatant form of prejudice written into United States law. According to U.S. military code, a homosexual’s “presence in the armed forces would create an unacceptable risk to the armed forces’ high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.”
From what foundation is the military basing this opinion? The Bible outwardly condemns homosexuality. I assume that some citizens interpret that as an excuse to undermine all homosexuals. Being gay doesn’t affect your physical, mental or emotional stability. Such stigmas have materialized across the globe from ignorance and misinformation. The unjust law caters to homophobic soldiers who may or may not perform inadequately due to the presence of gay soldiers. How can anyone justify homophobia as the basis for law?
It shocks me that such blind opposition to homosexuality can be so present in our government and military.
Musician Lady Gaga gathered fellow activists, calling equality “the prime rib of America,” and proclaiming that those who are gay “don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat the country has to offer.” Props to Gaga for using her eccentric lifestyle to capture the attention of many news networks and politicians.
Could you hide your nationality? In many ways, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is equivalent to a law preventing certain religions or races from joining the military. Does the ruling underhandedly restrict gays from joining the military?
Since the enactment of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, 12,500 individuals have been removed from the military, based on their sexual orientation. Why would someone wish to fight for a country that restricts certain aspects of his or her life? Americans must wonder why homosexual individuals would enter into the military, knowing that revealing a specific issue would be detrimental to their careers.
At the recent Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga was escorted by four gay former members of the U.S. military, each of whom resigned or was discharged because of the policy. She used media outlets, such as “Larry King Live,” and a public rally to advocate repeal.
After passing through the House of Representatives, Senate Republicans voted against the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, thus resulting in a filibuster. Some believe that Republican senators voted against it to secure election votes in November. When the Senate votes again, the votes may not fall the same way. Another vote should take place before the year is over.
In the words of Gaga, “If you are not capable of fighting without prejudice, go home.”
