Carr on history and impact of DADT policy
Carr discusses the history of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, noting that between WWII and DADT's 2011 repeal, an estimated 114,000 service members were discharged based on sexual orientation, and argues everyone should be allowed to serve openly.
This September will mark 15 years since Congress repealed the infamous don't ask, don't tell policy.
Which was supposed to allow LGBTQ Americans to serve in the military as long as they did not openly
Disclose their sexual orientation.
Intended as a so-called compromise, which in order to end discrimination against gay and lesbian and bisexual individuals in the military, in many ways it did quite the opposite, forcing people who were willing to give their lives to serve their country
an opportunity to go back into the closet, sadly.
And by some estimates, between World War II and DADT's repeal in 2011, the military discharged as many as 114,000 service members on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
And I think the lesson of that period before DADT, the period in which it was in place, and then, of course, the period since its repeal, I think the lesson of each of those points in time is that
everyone should be allowed to serve openly in our nation's military, regardless of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.
If you are willing to put your life on the line for the United States of America, that is a commendable thing.
It shows the inherent bravery and character of who you are.
That's what speaks to the kind of person that those individuals are who want to serve in that way, and they should all be given the opportunity to do so freely and openly and genuinely as who they are.