Editorial : End of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ aligns with SU’s ideals
During Winter Break, lawmakers repealed the 17-year-old ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which had kept openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the military.
The repeal of the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on Dec. 22 is an important and necessary step in securing rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community across America and at Syracuse University.
The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy has resulted in the discharge of tens of thousands of service members after their homosexuality or bisexuality was discovered. The law also applied to the thousands of young adults hoping to participate in ROTC in college.
SU has prided itself on an open and welcome LGBT community. The restriction of open lesbians and gays from participating in Syracuse’s ROTC program is in direct conflict with the nondiscriminatory ideals of the university.
Acting on behalf of SU, Chancellor Nancy Cantor came out in support of the repeal and signed a letter to Congress in May calling for an end to the law. The repeal will create a new cohesiveness in university policies and beliefs, and further unite the campus on the issues of no tolerance for hate or discrimination.
The repeal is far from the final hurdle for full inclusion on campus, in society at large or in the military. The repeal may undo mandated discrimination, but by no means does the repeal guarantee the end of homophobia on an individual basis.
As more and more service members are open about their sexuality, ROTC and the military must have policies that protect their members from acts of violence. Though lawmakers feared discrimination might hurt camaraderie, the repeal and its consequences are necessary to make way for future legislation providing equal rights for gays and lesbians.
The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy is still in place until a new law is researched, drafted and finalized. Without a strict timeline for this, outspoken Americans on both sides of the issue have an obligation to continue speaking out and contributing to the conversation. And lawmakers must work expediently and prudently to draw up a finalized law.
With the most widespread military in the world and the self-proclaimed goal of democracy building, America and its leaders have set an example. Ending discrimination and expanding civil rights strengthen America’s democracy and many in other nations.
