Changes in Policies Offer Hope to Homosexuals

By: Annarely Rodriguez

Posted: 3/2/10

At the beginning of Feb., Robert Gates, defense secretary of the U.S., announced the Pentagon was preparing to revoke the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military. Established in 1993, the doctrine dictates that while homosexuals can serve in the U.S. military, they cannot be forced to reveal their sexual orientation and cannot be asked by other members of the military to do so.

The repeal of the policy would mean that gays and lesbians would be able to serve openly. This step is considered by some as a positive move,

"It is definitely positive. It is not someone else's job to tell you what you should tell and not tell about yourself. [Besides,] the law is being abused. People are being kicked out of the military, not so much for being gay but because someone did not like them and used the law to get them kicked out," said Mikaela Myers, freshman of undecided major and president of the Gay-Straight Student Alliance.

Others believe the military would benefit from the change in policy more than the soldiers. "If they want people to serve, they shouldn't discriminate," said Kaitlyn Brucker, sophomore marine biology major.

Another positive political move for homosexuals took place last Dec. in Mexico City, where same-sex couples were given the right to marry, have the same benefits as heterosexual couples and adopt children. The decision taken in the heavily-Catholic country raised the question as to when the changes would happen in the U.S. and, more specifically, in Fla.

"It's hard to say because there are too many people in Fla. who don't think gays deserve some rights," said Jackie Vienes, freshman marine biology major. "I don't see it happening [in Fla.] for maybe 10 years."

"I think we're on our way but it's going to take a lot more work. There are a lot of organizations working on it. I get e-mails to vote on laws and campaign, but the other day I was watching a documentary against gay people and it was saying how it's wrong for kids to have a book called 'King and King,' pushing everything in the other direction," said Myers.

She also said same-sex marriage is not the only pressing issue, "It's not just gay marriage, it's employment laws and adoption laws. It's the same as having a racist law, like saying 'You're black, so you can't do this and this'."

To find out more about the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, visit www.sldn.org/pages/about-dadt.

The Graduate Gay-Straight Student Alliance will also be hosting a three-day event on April 8 through April 10 to dis-cuss hatred toward homosexuals in Jamaica.