Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Go There Again

After a 17 year ruling, the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military has been repealed, signed by President Obama today.  Although a huge step forward for equal rights for the GLBT community, there's still a long way to go until we are recognized as equals... a step in the right direction, nonetheless.  And although it's such a major accomplishment, it doesn't feel that way since the logic behind it seems so elementary, it's hard to believe that it's taken this long.

It's terrible that it's such a struggle.  It's supposed to be a great thing that there's an exception made so that it's ok that the G/L troops can go get their head's blown off protecting a country that doesn't protect us?  That we're only equal on the battlefield when they need numbers?  That we are good enough to pay taxes to put other's kids to school, but are fought tooth-and-nail to be able to adopt our own?  That we pay higher taxes without a married status and that we are good enough to put together a fabulous wedding as a planner or a bartender or a florist, but we will never see the aisle to walk down or the tax break?  That we can be partnered for 40 years to the same person while divorce rates are 50/50, but we have no rights to estate or health choices or other legal matters?

While I think that indeed it is a step in the right direction and may open some doors and people's minds, it's only a step that affects maybe 10-15 thousand service men and women.  What about the other 30 million (10% of 300 million Americans) gays and lesbians in the country?

Incidentally, the vote was 65 YEA and 31 NAY... every NAY was a Republican.