Local opponents of a ban on gays serving openly in the military said they are cheered by findings that repealing the law would cause little disruption in the ranks but won’t celebrate until it is overturned.
A Pentagon task force concluded that eliminating the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law could cause only limited and isolated disruption in some units. The task force conducted a survey of tens of thousands of military personnel and family members in which 70 percent predicted “positive, mixed or no effect” if the law is repealed.
“The study reinforces what we already knew to be true; it wouldn’t disrupt military operations, and we hope this study motivates the government to continue the process of repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ ” said Heather Draper, spokeswoman for the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, a nonprofit community center that advocates for Colorado’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population.
The U.S. House already has approved repeal, and Senate Democrats are reportedly working to secure Republican support needed to overcome threats of a filibuster.
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., a consistent champion for repeal, said the task force’s findings contradict the arguments of opponents who say lifting the ban could damage military readiness. “It has been obvious from the very start that gay Americans are perfectly capable of military services,” Polis said. “It is long overdue in this country.”
He said he is optimistic that lawmakers will repeal the law during the next week or two as Congress meets in a lame-duck session. Leaving it to the courts to decide the issue could hurt military planning, Polis said.
But U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., questioned the findings and asked the Pentagon to provide him with a breakout of how infantry fighters responded.
Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., also supports overturning the law. In a written statement, he said it is crucial for Congress to act now. “The best way to change the policy is for elected representatives to pass legislation that repeals Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — and to do it this year.”
Dede Frain, founder of Babes Around Denver, a gay women’s social organization, served as a nurse in the U.S. Army during the 1970s. Frain, 57, left the military because she no longer wanted to be a nurse.
During the time she served, most gay people — civilians and those in the military — were in the closet. It was painful, she said, to avoid mentioning the gender of the women she was dating when she talked to others, and she would never bring a date to a party.
“There were very many gay people in the military, and it was just not spoken about. It was second nature to me to have that dual life because I wasn’t out at home or with family at that point,” she said.
Younger people who are now in the military are far less concerned about the sexuality of those they serve with than older opponents of the change, such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., she said.
“We have made tremendous progress,” she said. “I will be so devastated if this doesn’t get repealed. It feels personal because it is so ridiculous.”
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
