This week’s Carolinian column: ‘Testing our Equality - Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Here is this week’s column from The Carolinian (UNCG):
Testing our equality - ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
by Matt Hill Comer, Don’t Ask (I’m Telling)
Issue date: 9/26/06 Section: Opinions“Matt, is this fair?” That was the question asked of me by Caron Myers, a reporter from Fox 8 WGHP, as I was led away in plastic tie-cuffs from Greensboro’s Army Recruiting Center on last Thursday.
“We live in a land of equality,” I responded, “Today we are testing that equality.”
On Thursday, youth in Greensboro took another historic step and stand for civil rights, equality and justice. Just like the “Greensboro Four” on February 1, 1960, I and three other openly gay youth stood up against discrimination through non-violence and civil disobedience.
Although there were four of us, the number was completely coincidental and unplanned. I couldn’t help but feeling that history had repeated itself. Four minority youth in Greensboro had stood up to government-sanctioned discrimination.
Our non-violent civil disobedience was a part of the 30-city Soulforce Right to Serve Campaign, a national youth movement challenging the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and bringing a face - not numbers or statistics - to the discrimination we all know is present within law and society.
What we did on Thursday - Jessica, Stacey, Alex and I - was simple. We are four openly gay and lesbian youth who are willing, able and ready to proudly and honorably serve our country. We are not willing, however, to lie about our lives as a condition of our service.
The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy has caused the discharge of more than 10,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual servicemembers. The anti-gay policy has cost the American taxpayers more than $364 million to enforce. The policy has hurt our military readiness as we see more and more servicemembers dismissed from critical needs areas such as foreign language linguists and medical specialists. America’s recruiting problem has gotten so bad that the Department of Defense has raised the maximum age limit for enlistment to 42, not to even mention the fact that they are now allowing enlistment by those with felony convictions - including drug convictions - and those with extremely low IQs.
Technorati Tags: Soulforce, Right to Serve Campaign, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Greensboro, Â North Carolina, civil rights, Carolinian, UNCG, Matt Hill Comer
About the Author: Matt
2 Responses to “This week’s Carolinian column: ‘Testing our Equality - Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Matt,
You are so right. I’ve never been one to discriminate against anyone, and I am so strongly fighting for the right things to take place. For justice to be served and equality to stand again or for once and for all. I am going into law enforcement, specifically investigations, and one day I hope to maybe work for the FBI. However I know there are a lot of people in government who are corrupt and biased. I hope to change that, just by continuing to be myself and love each individual as they are, not gender, sexual preference, race, or any other thing. I will not turn into a corrupt government official. I promise, I’m on your side. Miss talking to you, hope you are doing well.
Much Love,
Deanna
By Deanna Jobe on Oct 21, 2006
Hey Deanna! Long time no see! Thanks so much for the comment and I’m glad to hear about all the great things going on in your life. I really hope that you succeed in what you have planned. If you’re going to work in the FBI, maybe one day we’ll run across each other; You know me - Washington, DC, is definitely on my list of places to work someday.
Matt
By Matt on Oct 21, 2006