State rep wants DADT return for Oklahoma Guard
Published: January 10, 2012
WASHINGTON – Gay troops have been allowed to serve openly in the military for fewer than four months so far, but one Oklahoma state lawmaker said that has already been long enough.
Republican Rep. Mike Reynolds has introduced legislation to reinstate the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for Oklahoma Guard members, a move he said was prompted by requests from current Guard members unhappy with the change. The Tulsa World newspaper has been covering the story.
A similar effort in Virginia failed last year. Even though military leaders have opposed efforts to return to the old policy, several Republican presidential candidates have also said they’d like to bring “don’t ask, don’t tell” back.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum have all they would work to reinstate the policy. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has said he would not have changed “don’t ask, don’t tell” while U.S. troops remain in war zones overseas.
On the other side, Texas Rep. Ron Paul voted to end the ban on openly gay troops and has said the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy should not be brought back.
