The Gay Straight Partnership hosts 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' panel discussion
By Laura Frazier
For the significant others of military servicemen and women, saying "I love you" on the phone or in a letter is commonplace. But for UP employee Holly Allar, it would take the repeal of a federal law for her to have the same freedom openly.
As the partner of a transgendered person in the military, Allar must be discreet because their relationship is under the restrictions of the federal "don't ask, don't tell," or DADT, law.
On March 18 in St. Mary's Student Lounge, Allar was among the panelists on a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" informational forum sponsored by the UP Gay Straight Partnership. The other panelists were Army Lt. Col. and ROTC professor Louis Doyle and Fr. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C.
DADT states that gay, lesbian or bisexual members of the military are not allowed to disclose their sexual orientation. At the same time, their superiors are not allowed to ask.
Former President Bill Clinton enacted the law in 1993, and as of May 2009 over 13,000 men and women have been discharged from the military for being gay, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a group that supports the repeal.
Now, 75 percent of Americans, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve in the military. In the State of the Union address in January, President Barack Obama promised to repeal the law. On March 3, over a dozen senators introduced legislation that would both prohibit discrimination against service members based on sexual orientation and repeal the DADT law.
In light of the controversy, the UP Gay Straight Partnership organized the panel as a way to open up discussion and encourage questions.
Allar shared many personal stories about how her life and relationship have been affected by DADT. Because the two are not legitimized by the military as partners, Allar would not be notified if something were to happen to him.
"If my partner were to be killed, I don't have to be contacted," she said. "I am lucky that his family loves me and would tell me if something happened."
Another constant battle for Allar is that she is not considered for any sort of military family function.
"It's painful to stand next to him as an awkward friend," she said. "Every single day, that is something I struggle with."
Doyle offered a view of DADT from a military leader's perspective. Doyle said he has no problem with gays or lesbians serving in the military, yet stresses that as a commander, his job is to maintain cohesion, however possible. He believes that the law should be followed.
But, if the law is repealed, Doyle said, he thinks it will be due to the beliefs of society. Doyle also said that he would respect and support the new policy.
"The law will be a change for society, reflected in the Army," he said.
During his years of service, Doyle was aware of three gay soldiers, as he had heard comments made by their peers. But he ignored the comments, and was not forced to discharge any of the soldiers for their sexuality.
Doyle said that he is always aware of his role as an officer.
"We are not private investigators. We don't go and follow soldiers around and try to find out what their lifestyle is," he said. "In general, it is not a witch hunt."
Pomerleau adamantly supports Obama's plan to repeal the law.
He believes the military should support the morals and beliefs of the nation, and that the law contradicts what America stands for.
"The Army has been a leader in protecting the values of our country," he said. "The law needs to be changed because it's a prejudicial violation of human rights."
Because DADT is such a prominent issue in society, Gay Straight Partnership president and senior Oscar Villicana wanted to provide students with the chance to be a part of the conversation in a safe environment.
"Students care about it, but struggle to find a way to show support and involvement in an issue," he said. "It makes it easier by being out in the open."
Junior and GSP member Jayme Schroeder thinks that UP students came together when given the opportunity to address the issue.
"Students have questions and need a venue to ask them," he said. "This just showed how much a college can bind together over an issue and think non-judgmentally."
When asked if the policy change could affect UP, senior Allison Goodfellow said she thinks thought it could.
"The fact of the matter is that any change in policy will affect a broad spectrum," she said, adding that it might bring more tolerance to campus.
Army ROTC sophomore Leslie Konyha thinks that repealing DADT would bring in more ROTC recruits and eventually change the program.
"It would open a lot more boundaries," she said. "Any kind of change meets resistance, but the idea will not shock soldiers and it will be a slow, integrating process."
Whether the law is repealed or not, Konyha believes it is good to discuss the issue.
"It's nice to know that there are people who are open-minded about it and embrace differences and issues," she said.
