Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy on Homosexual in Military

' Americans favor allowing gay men and lesbians serving openly 58% to 28% (February 2010 CBS News/New York Times)
' Discharges exceeded 600 every year until 2009 (DADT)
' 22 out of 26 members of NATO allow gays to participate in operations (Wiki)

The navy has had its own share of controversies over the years. Now, it's the don't ask don't tell policy that is making the headlines of major newspapers and news networks all over the world. and it's not just the media conglomerates that are paying attention to this accusation of abuse, it's also human rights activists and family members all wanting to know the truth about what goes on within the confines of the Navy.

Simply put, don't ask, don't tell is a term that refers to the restriction imposed on the United States military from outing their members who want to keep their sexuality discreet and also at the same time, preventing openly gays from joining the military service. When this mandate was created, it was so that the military's reputation would be protected from being tarnished by unacceptable gay behavior.

The don't ask part was directed towards the officers, which essentially disallowed them from conducting any investigations on whether a personnel was gay or lesbian. Unless of course, if that personnel in question was exhibiting questionable behavior that affected their military capabilities, then that would be the only time that he or she would be subjected to investigation. It seemed like a foolproof policy that would help protect both camps in the long run, but unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way.

For many years, many ex servicemen have come out with their stories of the rampant abuse they experienced in the hands of the military, but it wasn't until Joseph Rocha came forward that the navy officials and the government started to really notice. Rocha shares that during his brief stint as a dog trainer for the Navy in Bahrain, he has been subjected to long hours of torture and humiliation instigated by his superiors and fellow sailors for being gay. The don't ask, don't tell policy which was supposed to protect him became the main and foremost reason for his abuse. Months of emotional and physical torture finally got to him and he decided to finally resign from his post, on the grounds of his sexual preference. From then on, his case attracted media attention. And a navy probe as well.

It's no surprise that this policy has fueled countless debates on whether gays and lesbians should be allowed into military service in the first place and if they are actually protected by it, considering that a few murders have happened because of this policy. A lot of loopholes and inconsistencies have been discovered in the original policy that lead to many human rights activists starting to question its credibility. The tension has dramatically escalated that an advocacy organization was created in order to support the thousands of service members that have been discharged because of this policy.

To date, navy officials and the pentagon are still in the process of studying the policy and looking for ways that the Obama administration will be able to deal with years of abuse and humiliation brought by the don't ask don't tell policy.

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