Don't Ask, Don't Tell [ArticleImageHyperLink] Wednesday, November 16, 2011 By Erin Radclyffe Advertising After 18 years, the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law enables gays and lesbians to openly serve in the U.S. armed services.  The DADT law was claimed to be unconstitutional and the policy ended on Sept. 20.   “I’m glad society is becoming more comfortable with military peoples’ sexualities,” sophomore Bobby Woods said. The DADT law was made in 1993, and 13,000 homosexuals had been expelled for revealing their orientation during their service. The law Pub. L. 103-160 states that homosexuals were prohibited to engage in homosexual acts.   The law also stated that it was “unacceptable to risk good order and discipline and high standards of morale.”   Military leaders supported the repeal of the law. The younger generations of military members have shown to not care about the sexual orientations of their fellow comrades because it does not affect their job performance. “Their sexuality shouldn’t matter because they are still fighting for their country. They are lying their lives on the line,” sophomore Alexis Fortin said.  Even though people in the military have the freedom to be who they are, there are new challenges that are brought with it.  Homosexuals who serve in the military are fighting for equal privileges such as health care coverage and housing coverage and family support services.   Another concern that straight members have with homosexuals serving in the military are the living conditions.  Some service men and women may find living conditions to be awkward because of the close living quarters to homosexuals. “I think that this is a step forward for the gay community. It’s just more progress for homosexuals being accepted by society as regular human beings. People are people whether they are gay or straight, black or white, or Christian or Catholic,” senior Alexa Bowser said.

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