It's estimated that 65,000 gays and lesbians serve in the military, but that's legal only as long as their sexual orientation is secret. Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was enacted in the early 1990's, some 13,000 have been discharged after being outed. The Obama White House is in no hurry to make good on the campaign promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. Now a gay national guardsman with a "mission-critical specialty" has challenged "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by coming out on a cable news program. A leading opponent of homosexual rights has organized 1100 generals and admirals on the other side of the issue, and political pressure is building. We talk with both of them and hear about conflicting court decisions and possible options for the White House and Congress.
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Back on the Front Burner
Credits
Guests:
- Dan Choi - First Lieutenant, New York's Army National Guard
- Elaine Donnelly - Center for Military Readiness
- Bob Egelko - San Francisco Chronicle - @egelko
- Nathaniel Frank - Senior Fellow, UC Santa Barbara's Palm Center