Two new books – Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War by former Republican Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace by former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta – give insights into Washington’s slow, deliberative but irrevocable move toward ending the discriminatory policy that disrespected qualified and patriotic Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual service members.
Duty gives an excellent account of the secretary’s role in working to repeal the shameful 1990’s era “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” policy. This policy required LGB service members to hide their true identities even as they volunteered to potentially sacrifice all for the love of their country.
Gates became Secretary of Defense in 2006 at the request of President George W. Bush and served President Obama until 2011. Despite being raised a “rock-ribbed” Kansas Republican, Gates had personally decided “that repealing ‘Don’t-Ask-Don’t Tell’ was the right thing to do.” However, he objected to being “blindsided” by President Obama’s announcement in his 2010 State of the Union speech that he would repeal the law. It was a similar political misstep for open service by former President Clinton that led to the disastrous “DADT” in 1993.
Despite President Obama’s naivety on the issue, Gates willingly did the heavy lifting to convince the military commanders that repeal was necessary and Congress was ready to repeal it. Gates took on the duty “to train both leaders and troops so there would be minimal, if any, impact on unit cohesion, discipline, morale, or recruitment and retention.”
Gates learned from troops and commanders that “every argument made about what men and women in uniform felt or thought about DADT, pro or con, was either based on assumption or was entirely anecdotal.” He decided DADT repeal would not pose unmanageable military problems but instead that open service would improve the military.
Gates was an effective soldier in the political fight of 2010 to repeal an abhorrent bipartisan DADT law. When questioned by troops with anti-gay views, he responded, “[W]e would do what the commander in chief and Congress directed, but we had to prepare properly [for the repeal].”
The Senate Armed Services Committee summoned Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen to testify on DADT. After 17 years of senior military opposition to gays serving openly, Mullen testified, “Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would be the right thing to do.”
History was made, political minds were changed, and the repeal of DADT was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in December 2010. It was a case of Republicans and Democrats working together in a Congress free of rabidly bigoted players such as the late Sen. Jesse Helms that brought an end to a disgraceful law that an unfriendly Senate had forced on Clinton 17 years earlier.
While historic strides have been made toward equality, much work remains to be done for transgender professionals. The repeal of DADT did not include transgender individuals, who can still be kicked out of the military for no good cause. The transgender exclusion must end before President Obama leaves office. I firmly believe my Republican friend from Nebraska, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, can help end this final shameful injustice to patriotic and courageous transgender service members.
Panetta, a former California Democratic Congressman, served as secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013. Upon release of his memoir, Worthy Fights, Panetta has become a vocal critic Obama’s ineffective leadership.
Panetta praises Gates for his leadership in working with the Joint Chiefs to bring them on board with DADT repeal. Panetta served to finalize the repeal, again with help from the Joint Chiefs. By 2011, Panetta found, “[F]or all the debate and worry over ending the ban on gays in the military, the actual implementation was strikingly without incident.” He eloquently concludes, “A major obstacle to equality fell almost silently.”
Panetta’s accomplishment for gay and lesbian service members was he “hammered out an agreement with the chiefs that would allow gay service members to sign affidavits that they were in a long-term, committed relationship, and to allow those partners the same benefits as other military spouses.”
In sum, both Duty and Worthy Fights are enlightening looks into government military and political decision-making on justice for gay and lesbian service members. Real change came about as a result of the efforts of a staunch conservative Republican, Gates, and a liberal Democrat, Panetta. Both were convinced of the righteousness of equality for brave gay men and women willing to wear the uniform, pledge to defend our Nation and our Constitution, and have the courage to face down those who hate America.
There is also an important message here for equality fundraisers who constantly demonize Republicans. Gates did great work for our community. Another Republican, Ted Olson, has done great work on marriage equality. Ten Republican Senators voted for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). I am convinced that other Republicans can, like President Obama on marriage equality, will evolve on LGBT issues. Given results of November’s election, equality fundraisers must also evolve on their approach to GOP lawmakers. I suggest they start now.
Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, by Robert M. Gates, Knopf, 640 pages, $35
Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, by Leon Panetta with Jim Newton, Penguin Press, 512 pages, $36
Human Rights Advocate Jim Patterson is a writer, speaker, and lifelong diplomat for dignity for all people. In a remarkable life spanning the civil rights movement to today’s human rights struggles, he stands as a voice for the voiceless. A prolific writer, he documents history’s wrongs and the struggle for dignity to provide a roadmap to a more humane future. Learn more at www.HumanRightsIssues.com
