Seventeen years ago, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was put into effect under President Clinton. Last Wednesday, President Obama signed off on repealing this law. This law allowed homosexuals to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexuality a secret. Clinton’s intentions were good: in order to prevent gays from being ostracized from the army, he simply took out the factor of them being homosexual. However, in this day and age and considering our nation’s history with racism, segregation, and several more issues, the thing to do is not to keep someone quiet, but to get them to be open and make people accept them for who they are. Just because a person of a different sexual nature is enlisted does not mean they will defend their country any differently than a straight person. Their homosexuality does not make them any different than any other soldier on the field. They should not be forced to live a lie or keep their life a secret just because being a homosexual is not necessarily the norm. As Obama put it, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.” Although it will not be an entirely smooth transition among all branches of the military, people will begin to accept that it truly makes no difference whether someone is gay, straight or bisexual. Regardless, these men and women are fighting for our country, and have every right to express who they are.
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