Local legislators wrong on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

For San Diego's North County Times

Our three San Diego County Republican congressmen voted against repealing "don't ask, don't tell" on a bill passing the House Wednesday. Last month, Representatives Bilbray and Hunter told this newspaper ("Marines lead opposition to 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Nov. 30) the Defense Department's survey of service members didn't change their minds.

"Making any changes to current policy during wartime must be done with extreme caution," Bilbray said, apparently unaware of Secretary of Defense Bob Gates' promise that nothing will change without extensive training.

Hunter conceded that DADT will probably end someday, but not with his support. He claimed repeal would endanger unit cohesiveness and "won't make the military any better."

Although the 52nd District's congressman is a combat veteran, his views are not shared by a large majority of those serving on the front lines. Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said repeal would have either a positive effect or no effect on their unit's cohesion, rising to 73 percent of those who've served with someone they believed to be gay or lesbian. Even though Marines, who compose 16 percent of enlisted personnel, have been least supportive of repeal, 60 percent of them agreed unit cohesion would not be harmed by it.

As for repeal not making the military any better, Hunter is apparently unconcerned by a Pentagon report that 11,000 service members have been discharged because of "don't ask, don't tell" since 1997, including nearly 1,000 with special skills, like Arab linguists.

The Department of Defense reports that two out of three recruits come from the small towns and rural areas of Southern and Midwestern states and are predominantly male. Their acceptance of gays and lesbians serving openly with them, given their conservative backgrounds, is remarkable. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 35 to 40 percent of Southerners and Midwesterners believe same-sex marriage should be legal, while 53 percent of those living elsewhere think so.

A national poll conducted by Quinnipiac University shows 51 percent of men favor repeal of DADT, while 62 percent of women do. Maybe that explains why Marines, 93 percent male, are least supportive of gays and lesbians serving openly. The other branches of the service range from 79 to 85 percent male.

The practice of an earlier version of "don't ask, don't tell" during the Civil War caused women who were banned from enlisting in either the Union or Confederate armies to disguise themselves as men to join the fight. They had to remain as invisible as today's gay and lesbian service members must be.

Our local Republican congressmen want to keep it that way, shortchanging our military while depriving thousands of Americans of their civil rights.