The Significance of the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

WASHINGTON D.C. – With a stroke of a pen and a thunderous applause from onlookers, President Obama signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act” on December 22, 2010, thereby ushering in a new pillar of equality in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement. Nine months later, on Tuesday, September 20^th, 2011, that repeal was officially complete. After nearly 18 years of enforcement, gays and lesbians from every color of the rainbow were on the verge of having yet another discriminatory wall torpedoed (pun intended), this time behind the work of our progressive president. Reaching this monumental milestone was not easy, however, as President Obama and the Democratically-controlled Congress faced fierce Republican opposition in allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve openly and honestly in the U.S. military. At times it even appeared the GOP would have their way in derailing the repeal, thanks to back-to-back filibusters in the Senate sponsored in large part to Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) who fought tirelessly in maintaining the status quo of DADT. The GOP’s argument was that allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve openly would harm military cohesion and would demoralize the armed forces. With no credible facts or scientific studies backing them up, they based their stance on mere assumption.

Americans, however, were not sold on that argument. A December 2010 Washington Post/ABC News poll found 77% of Americans favored allowing gays and lesbians the right to serve in the armed forces, and that support crossed all political affiliations (Democrats 86%, Republicans 74%, & Independents 74%). “The fact that it took the U.S. so long to repeal this antiquated (law) after so many countries have allowed gays to serve openly for years speaks very poorly for our country,” former Naval Petty Officer Remy B. Martinez told LEA, from his home in New York City. “Nonetheless, it’s a step in the right direction.”

Over 220-years of Discrimination

To better understand the overall magnitude of this repeal let’s look back at the history of the U.S. military’s policy on discharging gay and lesbian service members. The first documented case took place in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1778 during the times of the American Revolutionary War. Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin of the Continental Army was accused of sodomy by another soldier and discharged by the directive of General George Washington*. Fast-forward 215 years (and thousands upon thousands of discharges) to 1993. President Clinton campaigned on a promise to allow gays and lesbians the right to serve openly but faced with a staunchly opposed Republican-controlled Congress developed a compromise law called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The law’s original intent was to allow gays the right to serve, just as long as they do not disclose their sexuality to anyone, nor display any homosexual tendencies while serving. In essence the law can be described in this manner: you can defend, and fight for your country and you will be accepted among us… just as long as you lie and hide who you really are. Although DADT was seen as a milestone for the LGBT community at the time, the law resulted in the discharge of nearly 14,000 soldiers in its 18 years of enforcement, including over 50 Arab-linguistic gay and lesbian men and women.

A Militaristic Transition to Equality

Although the LGBTQ community was denied militaristic equality throughout the last 220+ years, the discriminatory ban has finally been vanquished from the ranks of the armed forces. So just how important is this repeal to our gay and lesbian service members? “It’s important to me because there is a stigma connected to being openly gay in the military,” former Navy Corpsman Daniel P. told LEA from San Diego. Would you be comfortable taking a partner to a Military Ball or to a military family event? “Yes I would feel comfortable. The look on their faces might be interesting though,” Daniel continued. Another soldier was not as so enthusiastic. Marine Jesus Gutierrez from Camp Pendleton stated “It’s great and all but am I going to jump on a table and announce to the world that I’m gay? No way! It’s no one’s business. It will be business as usual.”

It may be business as usual for some soldiers, but changes are definitely on the way. It was recently announced that a new LGBTQ military magazine is on its way to publication and will be available, free of charge, to military personnel on bases throughout the country. Also, in states that allow same-sex marriage, military gay nuptials have already begun. In Vermont, Navy Lieutenant Gary Ross married his longtime partner, civilian Dan Swezy, at the stroke of midnight on Monday, September 19^th. “We’ll feel it’s important that as soon as we’re allowed to commit to each other that we do. It’s important not to hide anymore,” Lt. Ross told the Associated Press. Assuming their marriage will not be the last within the armed forces, this will only mount more pressure on the Obama Administration to end the “Defense of Marriage Act” or DOMA, a 1996 law passed by a Republican-controlled Congress that prohibits federal marriage rights for partners or spouses of the same sex.

Is U.S. same-sex marriage recognition far off?

Now that gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military, and if you take in to account the American public’s overwhelming support of the repeal and the increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ community, then it may be fair to suggest that marriage equality in the United States may not be too far off. Currently, six states and Washington D.C. allow same-sex marriage, and California’s voter-approved Proposition 8 is facing continuous constitutional court challenges. For now, the extinction of DADT can provide an additional light at the end of the tunnel for the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. A dominating question being placed before politicians and the American public alike is this… if an LGBTQ soldier is allowed to fight in defense of his or her country then shouldn’t they also be entitled to the same marriage rights and privileges that are afforded to their heterosexual counterparts? The answer continues to be politically divisive and perplexingly sluggish. Perhaps the words of President John F. Kennedy can offer the best motivation in our nation’s current, historic, civil rights movement: “This nation was founded by many men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” Words that continue to ring true from generation to generation. [LEA]

-Antonio X. Garcia

Sources:

*Benemann, William (2006), Male-Male intimacy in Early America: Beyong Romantic Friendships, Haworth Press

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About the Author:

Antonio X. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego and was brought up in a heavily Roman Catholic home by Mexican parents. Part time college student, part time LGBTQ activist, and full time football fan, he now resides in the city of Los Angeles and serves as Board Member and Social Media Chair for the Latino Equality Alliance.

A Q&A with "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" Director Charlie Gage

LONG BEACH, CA- The passage of Proposition 8 in California on November 4th, 2008 was no doubt devastating to the LGBTQ community because it not only eliminated marriage equality in the state, but also enshrined discrimination into the California Constitution. However, what resulted from this voter-approved amendment was an awaking of epic proportions within the LGBTQ movement. Rallies and marches were planned out throughout the state and various equality organizations began to manifest themselves in the Golden State... including the Latino Equality Alliance.

Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8 is a film that documents that very movement and showcases individuals who decided to do something about the injustice of Proposition 8. Early this month, LEA was able to chat with Director Charlie Gage as we explored details of Inspired, what went on in the mind of the creators, as well as the surprising and unexpected directions and emotions that took form during the creation of this documentary. All of which led to a very inspiring climax which has undoubtedly changed the lives of the numerous individuals involved. 

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LEA: Thank you for taking part in our Q&A Charlie! Considering much of the documentary took place during the aftermath of the passage of Prop 8, how did the making of this film come about?

CG: Thanks for having me take part! Well, I actually never planned on making a movie, but immediately following the passage of Prop 8 I had a friend visiting from Mexico City and I gave him the option of either hanging out at a bar in Long Beach or taking part in one of the many anti-Prop 8 rallies. Honestly, I didn’t see any point to the rallies at first. The gay protests were planned in gay neighbors, to complain about how devastated we gays were because of it’s passage and I thought to myself, “Really, what’s the point? What kind of impact is this going to have?” Well, my friend chose to check out a rally in Long Beach and so I brought my $60 Samsung camera and I started recording everything. I was a bit blown away at the community’s response, and before I knew it I had footage from about 10 different rallies. At that point I got together with my friend Ian McIntosh and we decided to put a film together. We started bringing interviewees in, and started the meticulous process of cutting and combining the footage together. The whole process took about one and a half years.

LEA: The LGBTQ community in California was heavily impacted by the proposition and it triggered an emotional response never before seen in the state. Was it your and Ian's plan to grab that emotion and showcase it in the film?


CG: During the making of the film we kinda dubbed it “the Prop 8 film not necessarily about Prop 8” because as far as the film goes, it shows how various people in the community were propelled into action and how some organizations got their start. The LGBT community had a civil right removed from them and some within the community went from sitting back, sipping on their martinis and letting HRC do all the work, to standing up and taking action. That’s where this film really focuses on… the individuals who stood up and decided to do something about having their marriage right eliminated from them.

LEA: It appears you were inspired by what you were witnessing as well, is that correct?


CG: Oh yes, definitely! For the first 3 weeks after Prop 8 passed, there was a rally going on every other day. People were marching all throughout Los Angeles including in communities of color, and appearing on CNN describing how violated they felt having a civil right eliminated by voters. The people who rose up and decided to take action definitely were and continue to be an inspiration for the LGBT community throughout the nation!

LEA: In the film's promotional material, you make the following statement: “Intimate interviews reveal the ways the movement comes together, and the subtle and not-so subtle ways it can be pulled apart from within.” Can you describe what you meant by this?


CG: When you make a documentary you don’t really know what you have until the end. You don’t have a script or story boards. The interviews you conduct with people pretty much drive you to where you wanna go and the racism issue within the gay community ended up being a huge subplot of the film. Our first interviewee stated there was a rift within the LGBT community between the east LA groups and the west LA groups, and everyone I interviewed pretty much corroborated that information. Looking back now, it’s kinda ridiculous to think that just because we’re gay that means we’re all going to get along. In reality, just because we’re gay doesn’t mean we’re not racist. The passage of Prop 8 forced many different groups from various parts of the LGBT community to come together and work towards a common goal of equality. The day of decision is where this film reaches it’s climax. But really, there is no ending. Marriage equality continues to be fought for in the state today.

LEA: What do you hope to accomplish with this film?


CG: One of the things I kinda realized during our initial screening at the Q-Doc Film Festival in Portland, Oregon was that many people outside of California really had no idea of what had occurred in the state after the passage of Prop 8. Non-Californians had a general idea because of what they heard and saw on their local news, but they had no idea of the immense activism that sprouted because of the proposition. Something I hope we can accomplish in this film is to get the word out there throughout the nation so others can see that the activism and passion that occurred in California can happen everywhere else as well. People have to work together so that there can be in impact in the LGBT Civil Rights movement.

LEA: Prop 8 definitely initiated the wakening of a "sleeping giant" in California. If you could describe one emotion during the making of this film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Well I’m not going to say ‘inspired’ because that’s a bit cheesy (laughs), but one emotion that really stood out was being ‘embarrassed.’ Making the film really opened me up to different elements I did not know existed, like the rift between the various neighborhoods and communities with the LGBT community. Luckily, because of the research and interviews that were conducted I was able to meet all kinds of people from every sector of the LGBT movement in SoCal. I was kind of in my own personal bubble living in Long Beach, and going to the Falcon bar, totally oblivious to what was going on. This film really opened my eyes to our community in ways I hadn’t imagined.

LEA: I believe it may be correct to assume that many people from within the community have that same oblivious stance on issues that pertain to the LGBTQ community. Now, if can you describe an emotion that you felt at the completion of the film, what would it be and why? 


CG: Oh (laughs)! I wish my co-producer Ian was here to describe this with me but I must say, and I hope this doesn’t sound hokey or like I’m tooting my own horn, but there’s still sections throughout the film that get me choked up. There is so much raw emotion that comes across when you are watching the film, and even though I’ve seen it tons of times, it still gets to me. In “Inspired,” we also covered a wedding between Elena Popp and Bridget Gonzalez and that was very emotional as well. The LGBT community had a right civil right eliminated and it was just amazing to see every one say enough is enough and take a stand to win equality back! It's an ongoing struggle, but a struggle that is well worth it.

LEA: Charlie, thank you for taking time to speak to us! We look forward to the exciting California premiere in Long Beach this weekend! 


CG: Thank you!

Note: "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8" debuts this Saturday, September 17th, at the Long Beach Qfilms Festival at noon. The next two screenings will take place at the Doc Miami Film Festival in Miami, FL on September 24^th, and UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival in Utica, New York, October 13th-15th. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Antonio X. Garcia was born and raised in San Diego and was brought up in a heavily Roman Catholic home by Mexican parents. He now resides in the city of Los Angeles where he is pursuing collegiate degrees in Political Science and Creative Writing. In January 2011, he was elected to the position of Board Member with the Latino Equality Alliance, and now serves as Social Media Chair.