Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the policy in a June 2009 case, President Obama is still committed to his campaign promise to repeal the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Since its establishment by the Clinton administration in 1993, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has removed thousands of well-qualified military officers solely because of sexual orientation. Expulsion rates that had been falling before the policy was put in place increased between 1993 and 2001. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” could end some of the anti-gay feeling in this country as well as increase troop numbers. In the meantime, Obama has the option of suspending all “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” related expulsion cases.
Sources:
“The Battle Over Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Paul Waldman, Prospect.org, 2/2/2010 http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_battle_over_dont_ask_dont_tell
“Supreme Court Keeps ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Alive” Jeralyn, TalkLeft.com, 6/8/2009 http://www.talkleft.com/story/2009/6/8/124436/2120
Student Researcher: Colleen Werner
Faculty Advisor and Instructor: Teresa Henning, Ph.D.
Southwest Minnesota State University