Florida Agenda

By James Michaels

At 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) was no longer the law of the land in the United States allowing lesbians and gays to serve openly in the United States military.

Last ditch efforts by the Republican Party to detain the repeal of DADT due to “paper work problems” failed to stop the repeal of the act that the U.S. Congress passed,in a lame duck session last November. It was signed into law by President Obama immediately prior to their December recess.

President Obama issued a statement early Tuesday morning concerning the repeal of DADT:

“Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed.

As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

“I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

“For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens.  Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans.  Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.”

Immediately following the official repeal, several events happened in the United States:

Navy Lt. Gary Ross married his partner of 11 years, Dan Swezy, in Duxbury, Vermont, at the stroke of midnight just as the military’s ban on gays in the military was officially repealed. Vermont was chosen by the couple because it was in the eastern time zone and the couple would be able to recite their vows in front of family and friends at the first popular moment. The couple traveled to Vermont from their home in Arizona. Vermont was also the first state to allow gays to enter into civil unions and one of six that have legalized same-sex marriage.

For months, a faceless and nameless U.S. Air Force member stationed in Germany had been posting YouTube videos for months explaining what it was like living under DADT. At 2:45 a.m. in Germany, 7:45 CT, he produced a new video and posted it on YouTube, showing his face for the first time as he called his father in Alabama explaining he was gay. After telling his father of his sexuality, his father made it clear that he still loves him. “I called my dad to tell him the hardest thing that gay guys will ever have to say.” The serviceman still has not released his name but he goes by the YouTube identity of “AreYouSuprised?”

At midnight, HBO premiered a documentary, “The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The cable network described the show as a timely and historical look at gays and lesbians in the military that illustrates the tumultuous evolution of the controversial policy that fostered hate and intolerance within the military and undermined the very freedoms American military defend by forcing its soldiers to lie and live in secrecy.

The U.S. Military sent out a letter to all U.S. soldiers throughout the world formally announcing that DADT was over:

“Today marks the end of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.’ The law is repealed. From this day forward, gay and lesbian soldiers may serve in our Army with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our rules, regulations and politics reflect the repeal guidance issued by the Department of Defense and will apply uniformly without regard to sexual orientation, which is a personal and private matter.

“For over 236 years, the U.S. Army has been an extraordinary force for good in the world. Our soldiers are the most agile, adaptable and capable warriors in history — and we are ready for this change…

“Accordingly, we expect all personnel to follow our values by implementing the repeal fully, fairly and in accordance with policy guidance. It is the duty of all personnel to treat each other with dignity and respect, while maintaining good order and discipline throughout our ranks. Doing so, will help the U.S. Army remain the Strength of the Nation.”

The military also immediately started accepting applications from lesbians and gays. Prior to lifting of DADT, the military spent months updating regulations. Lifting the ban also brought a halt to any and all on-going investigations and discharges that were pending under the old law.

Existing standards of personal conduct, such as those pertaining to public displays of affection, will continue regardless of sexual orientation. There will be no immediate changes to eligibility for military benefits. All service members are already entitled to certain benefits, such as designating a partner as a life insurance beneficiary or as a caregiver.

The Navy had proposed training chaplains to conduct same-sex civil union on bases located in states where same-sex marriage is permitted. After more than five-dozen lawmakers objected, however, the plan was shelved until the Pentagon completes a review of the issue.

The ADF Has Yet to Discipline Those Behind Gay Hate Campaign

A homophobic Facebook group has been found trying to “out” Australia’s gay military personnel.

At least 80 people from the Australian Defence Force were signed up to the page, which claimed to inform which colleagues are “biting the pillow.”

The group – which called homosexuality a “filthy lifestyle decision” –went on to say: “It is your right to know who is biting the pillow. If you know any more bum bandits getting around in the ADF, shoot me an email.”

The page, which has since been taken down, was also said to have links to violent, anti-gay videos on YouTube.

According to Australia’s Star Observer newspaper, one of those “outed” by the Facebook page has already received a death threat in his work email, as well as a threatening note delivered to his house as a result.

The Australian Defence Force has allowed gay servicemen and women to openly serve in its ranks since the 1990s.

Complaints about anti-gay Facebook pages were received by the ADF in August 2010, but no action has been taken against members behind the page’s creation, a page that was created to expose and intimidate gay personnel.

Fairfax Newspapers, however, report that the investigation into the page and the dozens of personnel who signed on as “friends” has been shelved and no one has been punished.

The report comes as sources close to Defense Minister Stephen Smith told The Daily Telegraph that his office had received numerous threatening and abusive calls and emails over his handling of a female cadet who was broadcast having sex with another cadet.  The military has rebuffed claims it has not acted over the gay-hate site.

A key whistle-blower had also been warned to “pull his head in” as military supporters launch a rear-guard action against inquiries into the forces.

Federal police have been called and will investigate whether some of the calls were made by serving Defence members.

Mr. Smith’s office has also fielded dozens

of calls and emails from people who have been damaged by their military service.

A barrister who was sexually assaulted with a broom handle and bashed by senior cadets at the Australian Defence Force Academy, including several who are now senior military officers, told the Telegraph that he had received a threatening phone call on Monday evening.

The caller asked for him by name and then said he had a message for him.  “Tell him to pull his head in. He is making himself very unpopular,” the caller said.

The barrister said he was not intimidated by the phone call.  He has received no contact from Defence, despite a sworn statement from a witness to his assault that was received by the military in November, 2008.

A former soldier, Oliver Thomas, from Wollongong, has come forward after he read about the barrister’s treatment.  He said he was hounded out on a trumped-up charge after he complained about racism.
“The first thing I was told at Singleton army base was, ‘If you get a chance to kill an African, do it, because it is the best feeling you will ever have’,” he said.

Dozens of soldiers reportedly signed onto the Facebook pages that targeted five ADF personnel for their “filthy lifestyle decision”.

“This matter is still the subject of on-going investigation and it is inappropriate to comment further at this time,” an ADF spokesman said.

He told The Australian Online the ADF had a clear policy about “equity and diversity”.

“If there is a breach of these policies resulting in unacceptable behavior, Defence has in place clear policies for handling such breaches,” the spokesman said.

The material on the Facebook page was “contrary to everything that the Australian Defence Force stands for and has achieved in welcoming and supporting diversity across the organization”.

The spokesman did not say whether any Defence Force member connected with the homophobic pages had been punished.

Photo:U.S. Defense Minister, Stephen Smith