During the long and hard battle to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, many arguments were provided, both pro and con.
One of the arguments offered against repeal was the allegation that in those countries where gay troops serve openly, the effectiveness of their military has been negatively affected.
Many (including this writer) have used the Israeli military, one of the finest fighting forces in the world, as concrete proof that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Gays and lesbians have served openly, bravely and honorably in the Israeli Defense Forces since 1993, including in its elite Special Forces units.
Now that DADT is taking its dubious place in history along with racial segregation in the military and other discriminatory practices, there are still some skeptics and naysayers who predict the end of our military “as we know it.”
Of course, the transition will not be easy or without controversy and incidents, but in the end, the finest fighting force in the world will be able to implement one more measure of equality honorably and successfully.
A recent article in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes points out how—in the implementation of the new policy—our Services could take a look at how our allies managed the transition when they enacted similar policies.
The author, Suzanne B. Goldberg, a clinical professor of law and director of Columbia Law School’s Gender & Sexuality Law Center, writes how some of our allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, did it.
…meaningful education and training programs, strong anti-harassment policies and clear reporting measures meant that fears about lost unit cohesion and military readiness never came to pass. Even more compellingly, as our allies’ experiences show, by managing the transition with care, the open service ban’s end means the opportunity for a stronger, better-performing military.
Please read more here.
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.