With elections looming on the horizon, President Barack Obama is doing everything he can to help the Democrats win. He has been flying around drumming up support and funds for the Democratic candidates. His recent trip to the West Coast didn’t quite go according to plan.
While speaking at a fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer, the President was heckled by Gay Rights activists. The main call was to repeal the ban on gay people openly serving in the U.S. Military. The ban has been circumvented so far by the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy introduced by President Bill Clinton in 1993.
The policy has enabled gays to function in the Military as long as they stay in the “closet”. President Obama promised to change all that during his campaign for the presidency. But 15 months after the election and with no signs of improvement, it appears the patience of the gay community is wearing thin. In response to the question “What about don’t ask, don’t tell?” The President answered “We are going to do that, we are going to repeal don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The actual removal of the ban requires Congressional action and an executive order from the President. The Pentagon has already commissioned a review of the policy and in theory agrees that the ban should be lifted. If the ban is to be lifted, then the end of the controversial policy must be handled with care.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group known as GetEQUAL was responsible for the Los Angeles heckling incident.