Photo: Courtesy: Indiana National Guard
Col. Zieba says Hoosier Guard soldiers are prepared for the repeal of the policy.
The Indiana National Guard joins the rest of the American military as the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy goes into effect today.
In its most simple form, the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” means gay and lesbian service members can’t be removed from the military based solely on their sexual orientation. Jim Zieba, a Lieutenant Colonel with the 38th infantry division of the Indiana Army National Guard, is one of those responsible for making sure all members of his infantry are trained on what the changes mean.
He says while it may not change minds, the repeal makes it clear what all soldiers will need to accept.
Indianapolis resident Bil Browning, founder of the Bilerico Project, an online news and culture blog covering gay and lesbian issues, says leaving discipline to the discretion of individual officers isn’t enough to stop discrimination in the military. He says despite his concerns about the repeal, for him, it’s still something to be celebrated.
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The repeal was signed by President Barack Obama in July, though not made effective until today.
