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Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal

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Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal
In the year 1993, Bill Clinton announced a new policy on homosexuals serving in the military. This new policy titled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” states that no open homosexual may serve in the armed forces (Homosexuals). Eighteen years later, this policy implemented by Bill Clinton finally came to an end with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010”. On June 19, 2009, Pennsylvania representative Jason Altmire introduced the repeal to congress. With the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, gay men and woman will be allowed to serve openly in the military. On June 19, 2009, Pennsylvania representative Jason Altmire introduced the repeal to congress. Also leading the way to the repeal was Joe Lieberman, an independent senator from Connecticut, and Susan Collins, a republican senator from Maine (Lieberman & Collins, 2011). Lieberman and Collins both justify their efforts with this statement:
In addition to being morally, strategically sound, and consistent with our history, this law 's repeal strengthens the bond between our military and the broader American public. ROTC programs are returning to our nation 's top universities, at last ending a breach between academia and the military that opened during the Vietnam War more than four decades ago (Lieberman & Collins, 2011).
Lieberman and Collins both believe that this act of successful bipartisanship can inspire more republicans and democrats to work together in the future (Lieberman & Collins, 2011). These two senators describe the repeal as making America “fairer and stronger” (Lieberman & Collins, 2011). Senator Scott Brown, a Republican representative of Massachusetts, also supported the repeal of DADT. Brown is a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. As a member of the National Guard, and having been so for 31 years and counting, whether or not someone is gay or straight does not matter to him. What matters to him is that whoever decides to risk their life for their country does so



Bibliography: About "Don 't Ask, Don 't Tell". (2011). Retrieved December 7, 2011, from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network: http://www.sldn.org/pages/about-dadt DADT Briefing Garamone, J. (2011, July 22). Pentagon Officials Explain Repeal Implementation . Retrieved December 8, 2011, from U.S. Department of Defense: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=64782 Herszenhorn, D Johnson, C. (2011, April 4). Service chiefs to testify on ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from Washington Blade : http://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/04/04/service-chiefs-to-testify-on-dont-ask-repeal/ Lieberman, J., & Collins, S Maginnis, R. L. (2011). Mission Compromised: How the Obama Administration is Drafting the Military into the Culture War. Newton, D O 'Keefe, E. (2010, November 15). 'Don 't Ask, Don 't Tell ' Splitting Gay Rights Groups. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from The Washington Post: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/11/dont_ask_dont_tell_splitting_g.html Phillips, V

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