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Editorial: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ is finally buried

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It’s hard to believe there was a time when gay men and women were not allowed to disclose their sexuality while serving in the military. That time was last week.

Here in the land of free expression, those who put on a uniform were not even allowed to utter the words, “I’m gay” without fear of a dishonorable discharge. That practice should offend anyone who is even remotely patriotic.

We’re glad Congress and President Obama finally put “don’t ask, don’t tell” to rest Tuesday. The policy has been discriminatory since President Clinton signed it, but it rang even more offensive in the last 10 years that we’ve been at war.

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Gays and lesbians are the last minority group to be officially discriminated against. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was meant as a way to keep homosexuals in the military, but it created an unbearable situation for those who had to keep their private lives a secret and essentially lie every day about who they are. That burden has been lifted, but there are still restrictions that cut the other way.

Gay and lesbian couples may not use military housing, nor may individuals pursue discrimination claims if they believe they have been mistreated, because homosexuals are not listed as a federally protected class like other minorities and women. So there is much work to be done to equalize and legitimize the status of gays and lesbians.

President Obama could help by reversing his opposition to same-sex marriage, and begin to turn the wheels for repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. It is odd to live in a world where Dick Cheney supports gay marriage and Obama opposes it.

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