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This Thursday, September 20, marks one year since the discriminatory policy known as 鈥淒on鈥檛 Ask, Don鈥檛 Tell鈥� (DADT) finally came to an end, opening the door to service in the Armed Forces to individuals regardless of their sexual orientation. It鈥檚 a day worthy of celebration as a critical mile marker on the long and winding road of equality under the law for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

As we mark this occasion, it is worth revisiting the arguments once advanced by repeal opponents, namely that ending DADT would somehow harm service members and weaken military readiness and unit cohesion. According to , open service for lesbian, gay and bisexual members of the Armed Forces 鈥渉as had no overall negative impact on military readiness or its component dimensions, including cohesion, recruitment, retention, assaults, harassment or morale.鈥� Of note, co-authors of the study included professors at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Marine Corps War College.

A July Associated Press article that focused specifically on the impact of open service on military chaplains :

Prior to repeal, various conservative groups and individuals鈥攊ncluding many conservative retired chaplains鈥攚arned that repeal would trigger an exodus of chaplains whose faiths consider homosexual activity to be sinful. In fact, there鈥檚 been no significant exodus鈥攑erhaps two or three departures of active-duty chaplains linked to the repeal. Moreover, chaplains or their civilian coordinators from a range of conservative faiths told The Associated Press they knew of virtually no serious problems thus far involving infringement of chaplains鈥� religious freedom or rights of conscience.

The New York Times, in , succinctly observed that those 鈥渨ho warned of disastrous consequences if gay people were allowed to serve openly in the military are looking pretty foolish.鈥�

Despite the overall non-event that open service has been for those actually in the Armed Forces, some opponents of DADT repeal on Capitol Hill aren鈥檛 ready to give up the fight. During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House Armed Services Committee earlier this year, Representatives Todd Akin (R-Mo.) and Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) added two provisions that would undermine DADT repeal and open service.

The Akin Amendment in the House-passed NDAA could function as a dangerous license to use religion as a cover for discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members, by stating that the beliefs of members of the Armed Forces 鈥渃oncerning the appropriate and inappropriate expression of human sexuality鈥� must be accommodated and shall not be the 鈥渂asis for any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment.鈥� This language 鈥� a solution in search of a problem 鈥� could encourage the creation of personal, social and institutional barriers which would make the military a hostile environment for the very people who only recently won a measure of equality under the law. It would also make it very difficult for commanders to remove such barriers when they do arise. The this provision as 鈥減otentially harmful to good order and discipline.鈥�

The Palazzo Amendment would prohibit Defense Department facilities from being used for private marriage or 鈥渕arriage-like鈥� ceremonies for same-sex couples, even where state law permits such marriages. This provision ignores the fact that these facilities are already available for use by service members for a wide range of religious functions and ceremonies, including weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmations and other events. To deny them to gay and lesbian service members 鈥� even in those states where same-sex couples enjoy the freedom to marry 鈥� based on nothing more than the sexual orientation of those wishing to make use of the facilities is discriminatory. The this provision as a 鈥渢roublesome and potentially unconstitutional limitation on religious liberty.鈥�

While the arguments that were once employed to argue against DADT repeal may now look 鈥渇oolish,鈥� the continued efforts by some to green light discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual service members is no laughing matter. As the NDAA continues through the legislative process in Congress, it is critically important for those representatives and senators 鈥� Democrats and Republicans alike 鈥� who supported the repeal of DADT to stand against these types of efforts that are designed to turn back the clock on open service.

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