repeal of "don't ask, don't tell"

I have been curious about the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" in the U.S. military. Nothing in the press. So it was my good fortune to meet recently a mid-level-management military man and ask him. He looked at me and said it was a non-issue. "It doesn't even matter," he said.

I asked him to explain. He said that before the passing of the law he and several mid and upper-level management were trained how to give trainings for the repeal of this homophobic law. As a gay man himself, he thought the training to be "very well done." He then went on to train hundred of others in his branch of the military. I asked him what the reaction was. He said that usually at the end they applauded and stood up. OMG, I wanted to cry. I still do. 

John saw my reaction. He continued. The military has often been on the front edge of social change. Who was among the first to integrate Black citizens into mainstream service? Way before the rest of the country? He said that in the military to most men and women it doesn't matter where you came from, what your race is, whether you have parental support or not, or what your sexual practices are. What matters is that you do a good job. You are admired for your work. Period. The military has been advancing people of all backgrounds for a long time. And sexuality is no different he said.

John also said that now that the institutionalized culture of homophobia is outlawed, a lot of the older leadership's true colors are showing. Before it was a part of the culture to talk disparagingly about certain people. Now they are are speaking up and defending their "boys" who do a "damn good job." Amazing. I'm impressed, the middle and older generations speaking up. So it's not just the young recruits who "don't give a damn," as he put it. 

A couple of years ago people on the religious right were talking about how the U.S. was going to "suffer God's wrath" for allowing gay people to serve openly in the military. They counted this as a high sign of moral decay and demise. Whole empires and societies have crumbled, they said, starting with things like this. This was the beginning of the end... of marriage, of family values, of honesty and respect and decency. 

But the laws passed, and gay people no longer have to lie to keep their job. And the news has been mysteriously silent on this issue. (Or not so mysteriously.) No sudden decay of troop morale. No episodes of violence or mutiny. Divorce statistics in this country haven't shot up. The U.S. didn't fall apart. The mighty U.S. military moves forward, with this not even an issue. Not a peep - that I've heard. 

As it should be. And still it amazes me.