President Obama has often been praised, appropriately, for his leadership and charisma. Indeed, these have served him well both on the campaign trail and in the policy arena. When the American people demanded action on the economy, the White House and Congress worked to pass the stimulus package. Leadership, however, is easier in some areas than others. When there is not a strong constituency for a particular policy, even when it is both pragmatic and just, strong leadership is necessary.
Right now, the struggle to lift the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military needs leadership. Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., has introduced a bill that would lift the ban, but fast action does not look likely, particularly because Tauscher has accepted a position at the State Department and is vacating her seat. A good bill lies in jeopardy as a result. It needs a champion.
It is high time the government lifted the ban, if only for pragmatic reasons. At a time when our military is overcommitted, it seems that the last thing it needs is more reasons to disqualify potential servicemen and women. This isn't an abstract problem; the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network estimates that 12,500 otherwise qualified individuals have been discharged as a result of the ban.
Of course, the pragmatic reasons for lifting the ban come in conjunction with a moral imperative. The United States strives to be the land of opportunity and equal rights for all. 12,500 is a shocking number of discharges, but just one is too many when it comes as the result of bigotry. Equality and freedom are not consistent with unjust discrimination against anyone. There is no reason that gays and lesbians cannot be equally effective soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines as their heterosexual counterparts. Indeed, countless foreign militaries have no problem counting gays and lesbians among their ranks, and they have not witnessed deleterious effects.
The notion that allowing gays in the military will somehow damage military cohesion and effectiveness is one that, while easily foisted on the public, lacks evidence. For a more academic look, I would suggest examining UCSB Professor Aaron Belkin's paper on the subject, appropriately entitled "The Pentagon's Gay Ban Is Not Based on Military Necessity." Professor Belkin argues that evidence suggests that in fact, the military would successfully adapt to the presence of gays and lesbians. Academics aren't the only supporters of lifting the ban; former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Shalikashvili stated: "I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the Armed Forces."
Making a strong push to lift the ban flies in the face of conventional political wisdom. The forces in favor of maintaining the status quo are strong. There will be cries that action on this issue is too politically risky, and that now is not the time. Perhaps on the first count, there is some truth. Lifting the ban is indeed politically risky. However, if now is not the time, then when will the time come? Even as there is risk, there is political upside to acting decisively. For one thing, it shows courage and leadership, qualities most Americans would agree are desirable traits in a president.
On a more practical level, President Obama made a commitment to end the policy. If he fails to do so by the end of the first term, it will look as though he has retreated on his pledge. If he waits too long, he risks making the 2012 election or even the 2010 midterms about the issue. The challenges we face are too broad to allow the right wing to hijack this issue and make it a wedge. Acting quickly would reduce the issue's relevance to subsequent elections. Furthermore, Obama enjoys more political capital now than he will likely enjoy in a few years. The time for presidential leadership is now.
A wise man once said, "Justice delayed is justice denied." Indeed, the U.S. has denied justice to patriotic citizens for years by preventing gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Of course, an attempt to repeal the ban should be planned and executed carefully, but this does not imply waiting until everyone in the country agrees. If that were the strategy used during the civil rights movement, change would have come much more slowly than it did. If President Obama steps up and fights to lift the ban, history will remember his decision to stand up for justice at a time when it was unpopular. The cause of justice, as well as the need to maintain our strong military, tells us that it is not time to wait, but rather, time to act.