Knights Party Veterans League

Last month the Depart. of Defense released a memo which instructed gay servicemen to “stay in the closet” despite the the suspension of the Dept. of Defense policy commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” All this is while a government appeal on the policy is pending.

In the widely publicized order issued by a federal district judge the military has received an injunction which will bar investigation and discharges of homosexual servicemen. The Department of Justice has appealed this injunction and similarly barred all corresponding military judgments on such cases. It is no secret that the Obama administration fervently desires to end the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell and we may see the administration push for a vote with congress and not pursue the decision in our courts.

The Dept. of Defense responded that it would follow the injunction as issued, but since this time the judges order has been suspended.  Personnel Chief, Clifford Stanley, has also wisely cautioned gay servicemen to keep any knowledge of their homosexuality hidden.

The Dept. of Defense memo reads, “In light of the appeal and the application for the stay, a certain amount of uncertainty now exists about the future of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law and policy,”…”We note for service members that altering their personal conduct in this legally uncertain environment may have adverse consequences for themselves or others should the court’s decision be reversed.”

Stanley has also stated that the Pentagon is “committed to the successful completion” of an impact study which would reveal the potential conflicts of repealing the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell policy thus allowing openly gay servicemen. This study is due on December 1st. Congress has already had a bill before them for vote which would have allowed for the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell policy to be repealed. A Republican-led filibuster has previously blocked this legislation.

In the up-coming “lame duck” session of congress will the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell policy be repealed in favor of openly gay servicemen? This remains to be seen, and with the support of Knights Party associates and patriotic servicemen we may yet keep this policy in place, or return to the pre-Clinton era of a “zero tolerance” policy for homosexuals in the service.