It seems like the last couple of years have been full of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. Of course, it’s an American issue (and here there is no such ban on serving openly), but I think there is a reason the issue has worldwide resonance.

“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was one of  those”baby steps” we hear so much about. It was supposed to help gay, lesbian and bisexual people serve in the American military. It was supposed to protect them from intrusive questioning or witch-hunts, on the simple premise that they do not volunteer the information. It was spun as overturning the ban on gay servicemembers.

In short, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

And, as many people point out, it’s not quite perfect just yet. There are still ways that LBG servicemembers can be fired as a result of bigotry, and until DOMA is repealed, same-sex spouses of LGB servicemembers are still unrecognised and still cannot live as families on base.

But the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is still massive. To give you an idea, here’s what happened as soon as it was repealed, just for one guy, in Germany, ringing his dad in Alabama.

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