America is known as the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Brave.

The soldiers in the American military keep the United States citizens safe, and fight, giving their very lives to give us our freedom.

Freedom.

Yes — to vote, to speak out as freely as we like, of the press, and the other infinite list of freedoms that we abuse every day.

But many in America would withhold this freedom from others who are different.  Specifically, the recent failed attempt in the U.S. Senate to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law

Recently, there seems to be more of an intolerance of the rights of homosexuals.  In many states, homosexuals do not have the right to marry, and it is not enough that the freedom of marriage was taken away from same-sex couples, but the fight for equality amongst the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has carried into the American military. I believe that this is an injustice that must not be over looked by the citizens here in U.S.

These soldiers lose limbs, have negative life altering experiences while they watch their fellow troops fall, and they die fighting, and for what? To be discriminated against? To be discharged, if one is lucky enough to live through a war, only because their sexual orientation is seen as abnormal to a group of Americans?  Where is the outrage? What is brave and free about the way we treat this segment of the population?  

Those who oppose openly gay men and women serving openly in the military are only setting the LGBT community’s clock back chipping away years of accomplishments, movements, rallies, deaths, strengths, and victories.

It is not the plea to truly understand and accept homosexuality as a whole, but to realize that there is no harm in loving and caring for a same sex partner.

Witch hunts against homosexuals abound throughout history. Back in the 1950’s politicians and religious groups argued that homosexuals should be barred from serving or discharged if they were already serving in the U.S. armed services.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton, who had campaigned on a platform that all American citizens should be able to serve regardless of their faith, political views, race, or sexual orientation, agreed to a compromise that is the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

“Don’t ask,” means that no military personnel of any rank may ask another personnel their sexual orientation.

“Don’t tell” means that no military personnel may speak of their sexual orientation to any other military personnel. One would find that this meant that whether or not one is gay or straight, their sexual orientation was not to be a topic of discussion.

This was not the case. Officers in the American military would seek out other officers who they may, without facts, turn them in to be questioned about their sexual orientation and then discharged from the military.

Some would have their privacy invaded by personnel reading their private e-mail, or mail from family and loved ones, and would then be discharged if any topic of homosexuality was brought to surface.

Sometimes it was as easy as being discharged, although wrong, it is the lesser of the many evils that have taken place in the military.

Some female officers declined advances from male officials, and in their own embarrassment, the male officers would accuse the females to be lesbian. Therefore, getting them discharged from the very military they served for, and taking away their right to fight for their country. Most of these women were not lesbians, yet they were accused and discharged.

Greater evils do exist in our military. There were times when homosexuals were outed, black sacks were thrown over their heads, and then brutally beaten by their fellow officers. Unfortunately, there were cases of officers murdering someone because they were gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

One case being the death of Allen R. Schindler, Jr., who was brutally murdered by two of his fellow Navy shipmates. The damage done to Schindler’s body was described by the medical examiner to Esquire as worse than someone who is trampled by a horse, “they were similar to what might be sustained in a high-speed car crash or a low-speed aircraft accident.” Also described in the Esquire, his was head crushed, ribs shattered, and his male anatomy cut off. The only way his family was able to identify him, was by the tattoos on his arm.

This act of unspeakable violence was done on behalf of the killers’ hatred for homosexuals. Acts like this continue till this day. Not only are homosexual troops being attacked, but women, gay and straight, in the armed forces face discriminating acts as well; one example being rape.

Now in 2010 gay rights activists, politicians, and religious leaders are fighting more than ever to bring equality to same-sex marriages, as well as allowing openly gay and lesbian people serve in the military.

In an interview with Robin McGehee, gay rights activist, supporter, and founder of GetEqual.org, she said that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is like Proposition 8; it is based on bigotry and political views.

“It is an unconstitutional policy” McGehee said, “It is a lobbying tool instead of doing what is just and moral.”

For those who cannot serve as openly as some, “service members are living with emotional anxiety,” she said. “They are just living a lie.”

Joseph Stricklin, a Department of Defense officer, believes that homosexuals should have the same right as other troops to serve openly in the military, “In fact, this statement is common knowledge to most military members, ‘Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion’ – A report by a bi-partisan panel of retired flag and general officers.” Stricklin said that most of his military friends do not feel that working alongside homosexuals in the armed forces causes any problems or negativity in the work force.

“I think as more and more people in the world get access to a higher education, and not just “religious theologies” (the whole reason it is deemed wrong to begin with) we are realizing that there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a same sex life mate,” said Stricklin.

A well-known pop star, and gay rights activist, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga), made a home video and she announced that since 1993 14,000 Americans have been discharged from the armed forces, and “refused the right to serve their country, and sent home. Regardless of honorable service or how valuable they may have been to their units.” Lady Gaga stepped out of her celebrity shoes, and into her political ones. She went to Portland, Main to urge people to take action against John McCain’s filibuster. “We are not asking you to agree with or approve the moral implications of homosexuality; we’re asking you to do your job to protect the Constitution,” said Gaga in her video.

Robin McGehee, a localized celebrity in California, urges people to contact their state’s senators, and legislators, that are still in office and tell them to help repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” McGehee informed me that people could simply educate themselves on the topic and teach those who do not understand it completely, and to organize rallies if possible. “Make the senators speak out against this injustice,” she said.

Like the people speaking out before me, such as Robin McGehee, Joseph Stricklin, and Lady Gaga, take action! These are fellow Americans fighting for your freedom! Giving their lives to keep American citizens safe from harm, from “terrorism,”
and for what this nation was founded on. It is a disgrace that people would feel so strongly about one’s sexual orientation that they would care less if they were high ranking officers, who have served for years in the armed forces, and have them discharged.

Do what is right, educate yourself on these topics, listen to the people whose struggles cause more pain from discriminators than the good they have been doing our country to make America the land of the free, and the home of the VERY brave.

Thank you to the troops (gay and straight) who have served, and are currently serving in the military now. You have given up so much to make this world a better place. As you are off in other countries in the midst of battle, we echo your courage here in the U.S. and fight the battle of equality for all!