Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Faces Struggle in Congress

Repealing of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" has become tougher during the lame-duck session of Congress. The repealing of homosexual military service ban will be even harder next year as the Republicans take control of House of Representatives. The Defense Department will respond to this repeal by providing a study on December 1.

Don't Ask Don't Tell, enacted during Clinton's administration, once seemed to be repealed by the end of this year for sure, is now encountering uncertainty because the active-duty forces and their family do not care about it and Senator John McCain needs to keep his promise that service members should keep their sexual orientation secret.

I think the debate over Don't Ask Don't Tell has become a power struggle in Congress and a safeguard for politicians' votes. However, this debate of repealing the Don't Ask Don't Tell should be conducted on the ground of its real pros and cons, because the repealing of the Don't Ask Don't Tell might bring a cultural, disciplinary, and moral shift to the U.S. military. In addition, I don't think it is a favorable situation for homosexuals if we over-politicize Don't Ask Don't Tell. We are very likely to overlook their real needs and impacts, and more importantly, we are allowing politicians tussling with each other at an expense of minorities' interests and even dignity!