President Barack Obama made good on a campaign promise by repealing the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which banned gays from serving openly in the armed forces.
On Dec. 22, 2010, Obama signed a bill overturning the 17-year-old policy.
The Senate voted 65-31 to lift the ban, which has been a hot-button political issue since the Clinton administration.
Although Obama has faced backlash for the high unemployment rates and even angered members of his own party by extending the Bush tax cuts, he has surpassed former President Bill Clinton in many regards.
Clinton was unable to pass a reform of the health care system and many gay servicemen were forced to leave the armed forces with the implementation of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
“I believe President Obama’s ruling was just, correct and overdue,” says Terry Shropshire, a heterosexual former Air Force serviceman. “Gays have been serving in the U.S. military since America was founded, but [they have served] under a cloak of deception in order to protect themselves. Gays pay taxes, contribute mightily to political campaigns and the American economy, and have put their lives on the line in probably every theater of war. So overturning the antiquated ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ makes sense. I served with people whom everyone knew was gay, but I never encountered any problems during my tour of duty. Just like the high standards that heterosexuals must abide by, [I foresee no problems] as long as homosexuals adhere to a strict code of conduct and appearance.” –a.r.
