Those of us in the Hampton Roads area are counting down the days until full implementation of DADT repeal. Most importantly so that service members will not have to live in fear of anti-gay witch hunts and accompanying forced discharges (something the DOES happen even though the military claims otherwise). On a wider perspective, DADT repeal will also help push a wider acceptance of LGBT citizens in local businesses and venues as (i) more gays will be willing to be open about themselves in social settings and (ii) businesses realize that the LGBT market component is far larger than they - and especially the local anti-gay Bible beaters - have heretofore realized. Bob Witeck has a piece online at CNBC that reviews these and other likely impacts that will flow from repeal much to the continued hysteria of the professional Christian set and self-loathing closet cases like Robert Knight and Peter LaBarbera who continually transfer their own self-hatred to gays who have accepted their God-given sexuality. Here are some highlights:*
Once [DADT] repeal takes effect, and American forces adapt to a more welcoming military culture, what will it mean for everyone else? What trends will it shape in the U.S. economy, the jobs market and workforce? Here are six ways:
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Saving Tax Dollars, Preserving Military Assets. For starters, repeal immediately saves hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars while preserving critical military roles as troops fight overseas. The Government Accountability Office recently reported that over a six-year period (2004-2009), 3,664 service members were separated under DOD’s “homosexual conduct policy” – including four out of ten who held military critical occupations. This cost Americans $193 million to “separate and replace” these uniformed men and women.
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Opening Jobs for Gay Youths. For young men and women without family resources, loans or scholarships, a college education is often out of reach. That’s why many families today consider military service their best, post-high school chance for their kids’ advancement. With military service options, young gay men and women now face the same choices others do to serve confidently, to acquire specialized training and to develop job-readiness for post-service careers.
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Career Advancement. In generations past, gay men and lesbians have earned top ranks within the military’s official closet, yet anecdote tells us that this was possible only by denying their true identity to everyone (and often themselves.) Some officer candidates also knowingly sidestepped senior ranks and appointments that could put their lifelong careers at risk. That stressful balancing act of “hiding in plain sight” can now be banished, and allow us to witness more well-qualified gay Americans achieve distinction at Annapolis and West Point, in more command positions, and in post-military careers.
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Removing Bias on Military Bases, Others Follow. Corporate America has pushed to challenge biases and misconceptions about their own lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. . . . With repeal, more than 2 million Americans serving actively or in reserves now will become part of the largest workforce in the world that is free from discrimination on sexual orientation. Now, quickly consider every defense contractor, vendor and supplier with deep, profitable relationships with the Pentagon. With new hiring and retention policies, these private employers depend on recruiting these experienced professionals. They cannot lag far behind in tapping the best and the brightest veterans including openly gay men and women.
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Ironically, these ripples will be felt more deeply in my state of Virginia . . . While thousands of uniformed Virginians, by law, will now be free of job discrimination based on sexual orientation, they will work side by side with other civilians and state employees who ironically enjoy no such state law protections. This chasm between workforces, side by side yet unequal, will be felt more keenly each year until the need for a U.S. employment nondiscrimination statute becomes clear.
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Relationship Recognition and Family Benefits. . . . . Americans recognize sexual orientation has nothing to do with one’s ability to defend and protect our nation, and also that the families of LGBT people matter deeply. In 2009, Gallup found that 2/3rds of Americans agreed that employees with same-sex partners should be treated equally with health insurance and other job-related benefits. With time, this will include gay and lesbian service members and their families too.
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Recognition of LGBT Families is Permanent Trend in Our Economy. With many more gay men, bisexuals and lesbians now eligible to serve openly, their familial relationships will be spotlighted – and likely to become one of the most visible, powerful arguments for marriage equality which is now legal in five states and Washington, D.C. With civil unions and partnerships too, almost half of all Americans live in jurisdictions where same-sex relationships are legally recognized. With repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, thousands more same-sex couples will visibly transform the American economy, workforce and society in ways that we are only beginning to appreciate.
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DADT repeal is indeed in many ways the Christianists' worse nightmare. A huge segment of LGBT citizens will soon be free of religious based discrimination in the armed forces and our enemies will have lost a supposed justification for their own bigotry. And as more and more people come to know LGBT individuals and their families, the tide of religious based hate should recede more and more. Sadly, the GOP in its short term myopia hasn't gotten the message that time and younger generations are not on their side. Are you listening Randy Forbes?
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