The “don’t ask, don’t tell” law counters everything for which the First Amendment stands.

The gay community has been highly oppressed by many modern day bans. As we progress into the 21st century, it is time to repeal the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.

Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Feb. 2. They called on Congress to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule.

They were faced with much opposition from the right-wing conservatives, namely Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona. McCain stated the current policy is imperfect but effective, which differs from his viewpoint on gay rights more than two years ago.

There have been numerous controversies with the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, such as the lack of tolerance toward the gay community. Gates has ordered a “45-day review of the regulations used to implement the current law," according to The New York Times.

By repealing this ban, social injustices will disintegrate, and the gay and lesbian communities will have more opportunities to assimilate themselves into society.

Many are troubled with the idea of hiding their identity to protect this country, and the ban is extremely limiting. Mullen argued that gays participating in the military must hide their identity to protect themselves and their jobs.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, pointed out that members of the gay community are not required to lie about who they are, and that it is an overstatement to suggest so. If this were the case, gay and lesbian members of the U.S. military would not be discharged based solely on their sexual orientation.

Currently, the United States is involved in two wars and Haiti relief efforts, and now is the time to return to reality. Because of the wars that the United States continually becomes involved in, there is no room to be choosy with who should and should not serve. Yet it is estimated that it will take more than a year for this ban to be potentially lifted.

The gay and lesbian community should no longer be penalized by a narrow-minded American society.

Careers are being jeopardized. According to The Seattle Times, more than 13,000 members of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps have been discharged regardless of their qualifications. Being in the United States military is about serving and protecting its citizens, not the comfort level of integrating gays into the military among its heterosexual members.

Many oppose homosexuality in the military because it is against many religious viewpoints, which proves there needs to be a stronger separation between church and state. Although faith is respected in the military, religious principles should not dictate whether a person can serve.

This is not a lecture on religion or biology, but a commentary on equal rights. The military should embrace different sexual orientations and members must be supportive of one another. After all, this is the land of the free.