Why “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Should NOT Have Been an Issue in The First Place

As you probably know, “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the military policy barring people who are openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from serving in the military, while requiring those who are closeted to stay closeted while serving, was recently repealed. While I do think that it is a good thing that the military no longer has a policy discriminating against people for their sexual orientation, this does make me think that the US government and military are a little too concerned about the sexual orientation of soldiers. 

This should have been a non-issue from the start. There should have never been a policy to discriminate against gays, lesbians, and bisexual people, because the military shouldn’t care what anyone’s sexual orientation is. It has no affect whatsoever on military performance, and soldiers shouldn’t be worrying about sex or their sexual orientation while they are off fighting in a war anyway. 

If anything, “don’t ask, don’t tell” should be extended to straights as well. Don’t allow any soldiers to discuss their sexual exploits or conquests. They should be more concerned with the task at hand, fighting the war, than worrying about sex.

Now, I’m not saying soldiers should have to hide who they are. There’s nothing wrong with them talking about their spouse or partner back home. I’m just saying, maybe soldiers should be a little less focused on sex. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” issues only show that the military cares way too much about who soldiers are sexually attracted to and what they like to do behind closed doors. Whether you are gay, straight, or bi, it should really be no one’s business anyway, no matter if you are a solider or civilian. 

Now-a-days, it’s as if our culture almost expects everyone to be open about what they do, or would like to do, behind closed doors. Our sexual orientations have become the main component of our identities. There is a lot more to who we are as people than who we are sexually attracted to. Since you can’t choose your sexual orientation (despite what some religious fanatics might have you believe), we shouldn’t be judging people by it at all. 

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” should have never existed in the first place because people shouldn’t be so concerned with what others do behind closed doors anyway. It is no one’s business who you are interested in sexually, or what type of sexual activities you like to engage in. Your identity should be based on a lot more than your sexual orientation, and it should not be something that is used to discriminate against others.