Don't Ask, Don't Tell

This afteroon, I attended an interesting discussion on the US 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy with regards to homosexuality and serving in the forces. The crux of the policy is that you are welcome to serve in the forces, but if you are found commiting a homosexual act (which includes telling someone that you are gay) then you will be discharged. The other side of this, as well, is that the commanding officers are not allowed to forcibly interrogate someone about their sexuality. Essentially, this discussion came about because a couple of senators are attempting to get the policy repealed whereby it ceases to be an issue and an opposing senator stated something along the lines of 'The military cannot condone anything it sees as immoral'. It's certainly been a matter of heated debate over a few years since the policy first came into force (during the Clinton Adminstration).

On the one side, I can perhaps see some of the arguments that would be used in support of the policy - along the lines of 'It's a predominantly single sex environment so there would be considerable more opportunity for sexual encounters to arise'. There was one officer who has suggested that comfort and trust was the important issue i.e. many people feel uncomfortable around gays, and don't trust them. And you need trust in the forces' and so on, and so on. Now these are valid points of view - although certainly on the trust thing i would have more trust for someone who is open and honest, instead of someone who has to hide and be secretive. However, I feel that it's somewhat flawed. The forces generally frown on sex and sexual acts between people serving period, so why the specific need for a policy singling out homosexuality? Certainly, there are current estimates of 65,000 gays serving in the military (and i believe that it's an underestimate at that). Bottom line is, if there are people willing to serve, protect and die for their country why ostracize some of them?