10/16/2009 2:46 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) sent a letter to President Barack Obama Friday in which he called on the president to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
In his letter, Udall said he would be an "outspoken champion" for the policy that bars openly gay or lesbian people from serving in the military.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell is antiquated and no longer reflects the reality of our society," Udall wrote in his letter. "As we fight in two wars, it's counter-productive - and frankly, expensive - to discharge men and women who have critical skills we need to win those wars, just because they're gay."
He added that it's "past time to repeal this failed policy. We need to take steps now so we can replace 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' with a policy that prevents discrimination against service members based on their sexual orientation."
Udall did, however, agree with leaders on the Armed Services Committee that it is necessary to consult with senior military officials and get their buy-in before moving to repeal the policy.
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the military, because such acts "would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability."
The law does not prohibit homosexuals from serving in the military, and a person's sexual orientation is not asked of a person who wants to serve. However, the law does prohibit a homosexual from openly discussing their sexual orientation with their superiors and fellow officers.
It was designed to be a compromise, as previous military policy had outright banned homosexuals from serving altogether.
However, the policy has come under heavy criticism, especially in recent years. In 2006, a Zogby International poll of people who serve in the military found that most members of the military would have no problem serving with someone openly homosexual. Further, most also felt that an openly homosexual member would not have a negative impact on a unit.
High-profile military personnel have also spoken out against the policy in recent years, with Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili and former Senator and Secretary of Defense William Cohen speaking out against it in 2007.
Former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell also spoke out against the policy in July 2009, saying that though the policy had been appropriate for its time, society's attitude towards homosexuals has changed over the years to the point that the policy is out-of-date.
by RTT Staff Writer
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