February 8th, 2009
The Kansas National Guard has discharged its first soldier under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
Amy Brian, who served nine years in the Guard, including a stint in Iraq, was investigated and “separated” last month after a civilian co-worker told authorities they had seen her kissing a woman in a Wal-Mart checkout line.
Brian joins almost 12,500 other lesbian, gay and bisexual service members discharged from 1994 to 2007.
Update: In a more detailed article from the Associated Press, Brian joined the Guard in 1991, serving until 1994. She re-enlisted in 2003 and was sent to Iraq.
During her first six months in Iraq, she was part of a maintenance crew at Camp Anaconda at Balad, working 12-hour shifts beside other American troops and civilians from other countries. She later was asked to narrate award ceremonies, write evaluations and do office work. “Everyone I went with (to Iraq) knew I was gay, and no one had a problem with it,” she said.
…But last July another gay Guardsman told Brian “somebody has it in for you” and recommended she delete her MySpace page, which indicated she was a lesbian.
All too often, DADT is nothing more than a weapon for revenge and incrimination. How does that help unit cohesion?
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Emily K
February 9th, 2009
can somebody PLEASE explain, if it’s don’t ask don’t tell, why people are STILL asking and STILL telling???
Joel
February 9th, 2009
AHA.. i was under the impression that the ‘don’t ask dont tell’ policy was restricted to the confines of when you worked for the military. Apparently if they catch you off duty it works the same. Talk about opression.
Sad. Truly Sad.
Ephilei
February 9th, 2009
Unless our military is deploying into Walmart installations, how did this person violate DADT? Shouldn’t the person who told on her be reprimanded?
Jason D
February 9th, 2009
The third part, often overlooked, of DADT is “Don’t Pursue”. As in, don’t ask them if they’re gay, don’t tell anyone if you’re gay, and don’t try to find out if any of your soldiers are gay.
It would appear allowing a rumor to stand as evidence would count as “pursuit”, but that’s just me.
John
February 9th, 2009
Has anyone been discharged from the military for violating the “Don’t Ask and the Don’t Pursue” parts of the policy?? I didn’t think so.
John
February 9th, 2009
This is why I am very skeptical of this supposed delay that’s been talked about in repealing DADT. I don’t believe that Obama is serious and instead is burying it “in committee” so to speak. This policy HAS to go and waiting any longer is a detriment not only to the military, but for gay rights in general.
Btw, military service is 24/7 and isn’t limited to just bases. One can be charged for offenses to the UCMJ regardless of when or where they occur.
AdrianT
February 9th, 2009
DADT is evil discrimination, And if I hear correctly, while Obama courts faith communities, even this won’t be looked at till the troops are out of Iraq… well that will be ages. Some audacity, some hope. Delay on this means more statistics, every one of which a destroyed career and ruined livelihood.
I hope the ACLU and all of you turn up the heat on this ridiculous legislation – though actually, wouldn’t it be nice if former straight colleagues of dismissed military could start showing a little public solidarity?
Attmay
February 9th, 2009
Obama is a fraud. I saw that from day one, and I’m glad the rest of you are seeing that your hero has feet of clay.
Dave
February 10th, 2009
A civilian co-worker is singular, and they is plural. Doesn’t anyone write with proper grammar anymore?
Dave
February 10th, 2009
Emily K, Joel, Ephilei, and John,
You have run into the essentially hypocritical nature of the Clinton-era policy.
John
February 10th, 2009
I was in uniform when Clinton showed what a spineless coward he is on this. I remain skeptical that Obama will actually do anything other than talk, talk, talk…
David C.
February 10th, 2009
Maybe it should be “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tattle“.
~~
By now it should be pretty clear that Obama is going to have problems with the still intransigent Republicans in both houses of Congress. Mitigating the negative effects of DADT at the presidential level by use of Executive Order would stop or at least slow this kind of thing way down.
Perhaps everybody that believes Obama should act immediately should themselves go here and suggest that he sign an executive order or similar executive regulation, under Section 654(b), withholding all discharges and initiations of investigations/discharges under Section 654 at the Presidential level. That is, suggest the President should order that no investigation or discharge be initiated under Section 654 without his personal approval. It’s unlikely that anybody would bother the president with any more investigations or discharges and even if they did, he could just treat such referrals as being of a very low priority, deferring them indefinitely.
I would not expect much action on this at the Presidential level until after all the stimulus and bail-out bills have been passed.
Jason D
February 10th, 2009
“A civilian co-worker is singular, and they is plural. Doesn’t anyone write with proper grammar anymore?”
Except in the case where the singular person either has no gender (he or she) or it is not known, in that case “they” is acceptable as “they” can be singular in that instance. Chill.
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