Democratic Platform Calls for Homosexuals in the Military

Since 08-13-08

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By Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief

 

August 13, 2008

 

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=34037

 

Two Iraqi boys watch U.S. soldiers on patrol in Iraq. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) (CNSNews.com) - The national platform approved at a Democratic Platform Committee meeting in Pittsburgh on Saturday includes language that calls for repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy implemented by Democratic President Bill Clinton and for allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

 

Under current federal law, homosexual conduct is illegal in the U.S. military.

 

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has said he favors repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allowing avowed homosexuals in the military. 

 

In Congress this summer, some Democratic members started laying the ground work for such a policy change should Obama be elected.

 

On July 23, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing exploring the possible repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told CNSNews.com that he shares Obama’s position that homosexuals should be allowed to openly serve.

 

Homosexual conduct has long been prohibited by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  In 1993, however, President Clinton instituted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, under which the military does not ask recruits if they are homosexual and homosexuals are allowed to serve as long as they do not announce their orientation or engage in homosexual conduct.

 

Between 1994 and 2003, according to the Government Accountability Office, about 9,500 people were removed from the military because of homosexual conduct.

 

The draft Democratic platform, which is expected to receive routine final approval at the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this month, says:

 

“More than 10,000 service men and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation since the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy was implemented, at a cost of over $360 million. Many of those forced out had special skills in high demand, such as translators, engineers and pilots. At a time when the military is having a tough time recruiting and retaining troops, it is wrong to deny our country the service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.”

 

The 2004 Democratic platform did not mention “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”