On the heels of the absurd bill proposed by Sen. Ralph Shortey, Oklahoma is again making a national name for itself. Rep. Mike Reynolds has drafted legislation to ban homosexuals from serving in the Oklahoma National Guard. He is essentially trying to overturn the national repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell on the state level.
The Huffington Post:
The Tulsa World reported on Tuesday that state Rep. Mike Reynolds (R) of Oklahoma City introduced a bill to bar gays and lesbians from the Oklahoma National Guard. Reynolds told the World that the bill was created “in response to requests from members of the Oklahoma National Guard” and would reinstate DADT among the state’s part-time soldiers.
But according to the Human Rights Campaign and The Equality Network, the proposed bill goes even further. “The bill goes beyond the discrimination contained in the now-repealed DADT statute, and allows government officials to directly question someone about their sexual orientation – essentially removing the ‘don’t ask’ component contained in DADT,” the groups said in a joint statement released Tuesday.
For Reynolds to introduce this bill, one would expect that the military views the repeal as a growing problem. Right? Otherwise, Reynolds just looks like a bigot - using public resources to pursue a personal agenda. While Reynolds claims his motives stem from concerns levied from members of the Oklahoma National Guard, he refuses to state who, or even how many, have relayed such concerns.
Since Reynolds won’t be more forthcoming, I wonder what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, thinks:
Today, with implementation of the new law fully in place, we are a stronger joint force, a more tolerant joint force, a force of more character and more honor, more in keeping with our own values.
Hey, what does he know about military policy? He just chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mike Reynolds is a State Representative!
I was happy to see the Tulsa World offer an editorial opinion that expressed the outrage this bill deserves:
How much more embarrassment can this state stand from the likes of Reynolds? He says he is doing this because he has been asked to by National Guard members. How many? Who are they? Let’s have them step up and stand alongside their champion.
The repeal of DADT was the right thing for the U.S. military. It is the right thing for the Oklahoma National Guard. All Oklahomans deserve the chance to serve their state and country. Reynolds should be ashamed for not believing that.
Ensuring that people like Sen. Shortey and Rep. Mike Reynolds never again represent Oklahoma should be on everyone’s shortlist entitled, “How to Improve Oklahoma.”
The fact is that they are currently the national face of Oklahoma. Frankly, that face deserves to be covered with a brown paper bag right now. For shame.