A Republican group is challenging the constitutionality of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law in a federal court in California this week.
The Washington Post’s Ed O’ Keefe interviewed the group’s executive director.
One of the questions was why the group has fought for six years to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The director answered:
It’s to directly challenge the constitutionality of the policy. We’re seeking a ruling from the federal court that the policy violates constitutional protections of due process and freedom of speech. . . .
If [the policy] ends through the executive process, fine; if it ends through the legislative process, fine. But to achieve victory, as in military operations, one has to look at multiple theaters. Our full-coverage approach has been to cover every aspect of terrain: There’s the consultative process in the executive branch, by communicating with the Defense Department. There’s the legislative process, advocating for Congress to get out of the personnel management business and strike “don’t ask, don’t tell” from the U.S. Code so that the Defense Department can actually implement open service. Then there’s the judicial approach.
And as to what Republicans think about the group’s efforts:
There’s been a steady increase of Americans in support of repeal. If you break down those metrics, registered Republicans generally support repeal. There are those who are self-identified conservatives, who can range from libertarians to tea party members, who are for repeal. Then there are . . . people who attend church services on a regular basis. Again, there’s a steady support for repeal…
If you are like me, you were probably surprised by the headline.
However, before you get your hopes up too much that Republicans are coming around en masse to the support of equal rights for gays in the military, the “group” is the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR), a group started in the late 1970s as a Republican equal rights organization, with an emphasis on gays and lesbians.
The executive director is R. Clarke Cooper, a former Bush administration State Department official and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.
When Cooper was asked whether he, as a reserve Army captain who is gay, is worried about being discharged under the policy, Cooper replied:
The threat and specter are still there, but this is a policy that needs to go. Do I want to be discharged? Heck no. I love the Army. I’m proud of my service. My family has been serving in the military in some fashion since the 1630s, in what was once home guard, later National Guard, reserve and active duty. Every generation has been doing military service, and I don’t plan to resign my commission. There’s no need to.
While “gay Republicans” may sound like an oxymoron, I have great respect for those gay Republicans who, in spite of the rejection of and disdain for their sexual orientation shown by their own Party, believe strongly enough in other Republican/conservative principles to work from inside the Party to make their Party more inclusive, especially when it comes to gay and lesbian issues. I salute you, LCR.
According to the home web site of the LCR, this is what its members believe in:
We are loyal Republicans. We believe in limited government, strong national defense, free markets, low taxes, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. Log Cabin represents an important part of the American family—taxpaying, hard working people who proudly believe in this nation’s greatness. We also believe all Americans have the right to liberty and equality. We believe equality for gay and lesbian people is in the finest tradition of the Republican Party. We educate our Party about why inclusion wins. Opposing gay and lesbian equality is inconsistent with the GOP’s core principles of smaller government and personal freedom.
Their concluding message:
We are optimistic about the future because more Republicans everyday understand why equality and liberty matter for every citizen, regardless of their sexual orientation. Log Cabin proudly stands as a principled voice working to build a more inclusive GOP and a better America.
I wholeheartedly agree. A more inclusive GOP will definitely make for a better America, and I wish the LCR every success in their commendable but difficult mission.
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.