DADT and the future of Gay Rights in the US

I was just thinking...


As I'm sure many of you know by now, the US Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which prevented homosexuals from openly serving, ended yesterday, September 20. This was an enormous step in the gay rights movement.

A brief history on DADT: Don't Ask, Don't Tell was enacted December 21, 1993, and the congressional bill to end it was enacted in December 2010. In federal appeals court, on July 6, 2011, DADT was barred from further enforcement. On July 22, a certification was sent to Congress setting September 20 as the official end date. It was signed by all the necessary people: President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

So, what does the end of DADT mean? It means that homosexuals in the military now no longer have to hide their true selves. With such a major part of the federal government being the military ($663.8 billion. That's right, billion) it is a huge landmark for the government to be so accepting. Or, rather, to have stopped being so hateful. I think this is enormous for the US government, and here's why: The same-sex marriage issue has been a hot button issue for many years now. However, it shows no sign of being truly addressed on the national level. It appears as if same-sax marriage legalization will be a state government decision, at least based on the current political atmosphere. So, repealing DADT is just about the biggest thing the government could possibly do right now. Just about.

The other major gay rights issue that is on the table at the national level is the Defense of Marriage Act, or DoMA. DoMA defines marriage as between a man and woman, which is incorrect. It is possible that this could be repealed at some point in the near future, but I wouldn't hold your breath. So, for the time being, the repeal of DADT is the biggest victory for gay rights on the federal level. Congratulations!