Monday, December 06, 2004

Dismissed Gays Sue to Overturn Military Policy

Twelve homosexuals expelled from the U.S. military sued the government on Monday, demanding to be reinstated based on last year's Supreme Court ruling that overturned state laws making gay sex a crime.

The suit, filed in federal court in Boston,
challenged the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy of allowing gays to serve in the military only so long as they do not discuss their sexual orientation or participate in homosexual acts.

Many on the left will be saying this isn't what we need right now. Screw them. It is what is right. How are we liberals if we aren't fighting for what is right over political success? And it doesn't matter anyway. As this last election showed, Democrats taking the same positions as Republicans on social issues such as this didn't help one iota. People need to understand, as many in the military itself do, that these people serve their country in the most powerful way possible and they, if anyone, deserve equality. Who are the greater Americans afterall? The gay soldiers who have fought in our wars, or conservative bigots? The answer is a no-brainer to me.

UPDATE: An Army court ruling deals blow to sodomy law.

1 comment:

Alexander Wolfe said...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a stupid policy that deserves it's timely death. It's harmful to our national interests, and a clear violation of the rights of gay men and women who desire to serve their country. The only reason the military gets away with it is because they are an arm of the government and can make specious arguments about gays somehow undermining the will of other soldiers to fight. The super macho military culture has somehow managed to deal with women in the military; they can figure this one out too.