U.S. Senate to vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy

After 17 years of silence, gay and lesbian members of the U.S. Armed Forces might be allowed to open up about their sexuality.

The U.S. Senate could vote on the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy as early as today, McClatchy-Tribune News Service reported.

The policy, which bans openly gay and lesbian men and women from serving in the military, is being brought to the floor as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

“We will finally send a loud and clear message that everyone who steps up to serve our country should and will be welcomed regardless of sexual orientation,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a press release.

It is estimated that nearly 13,000 service members have been released from the military since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was enacted.

For a former UNC student, the issue hits close to home.

“In five, 10 or even 50 years we will look back and wonder why we had to fight and work so hard to give people the rights they deserve,” said Sara Isaacson, who was a member of the UNC ROTC program until she came out to her commander.

Isaacson lost her nearly $80,000 ROTC scholarship as a result of opening up about her sexuality.

“If the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is repealed, the gay and lesbian community will be able to become more involved in the social culture that is so strong in the military,” she said.

Lt. Col. Monte Yoder of the UNC ROTC has said that he will follow the laws as they are dictated by Congress and President Barack Obama in regards to the potential repeal of the policy.

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell statute was enacted in 1993 under the Clinton administration. The original concern with letting homosexuals serve was that it would damage the morale and readiness of the Armed Forces.

Members of the Young Democrats at UNC have been rallying for the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

The organization helped sponsor a trip to Washington, D.C. last fall to raise awareness about the issue.

“If Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is repealed it will be a strong symbol for the fact that the gay and lesbian community should not be discriminated against in the workplace,” said Lee Storrow, president of the Young Democrats.

Even if the policy is repealed this week, Congress will have to finalize the wording of the National Defense Authorization Act before it becomes official.

President Obama has said that he will not sign off on the repeal until the Pentagon has completed research on the impact it would have on the military.

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.