The shameful “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that has been in place in the military since the Clinton administration is finally on the way out. In the State of the Union address, President Obama addressed the policy saying he will “finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.”

This repeal has been a long time coming. President Clinton wished to let openly gay and lesbian Americans serve in the military, but formed the current policy as a compromise. Before his administration, homosexuals were not admitted to or were discharged from the military.

Now, as the gay community becomes m ore accepted in American culture, the public has found itself at odds with the 17-year-old policy. A 2008 poll showed that 80 percent of Americans agreed that openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military. Even Admiral Mike Mullen, the top military officer in the US military, has called for its repeal.

Understandably, there are disadvantages that would come from being openly gay in the military, such as harassment from other military members. But homosexuality is a part of these service members lives. Some of them may have stable relationships, marriages, and possibly children. Even if this isn’t the case, the military has no right to order someone to keep their personal life under wraps just because it is not the socially accepted norm.

Being gay should not be a factor for a man or woman serving in the armed forces. It is not contagious and it will not spread to the service members surrounding them. All that should mater is that they are brave Americans who signed up to serve their country and protect the freedom that allows them to continue their lifestyle. Homosexuality in no way makes a man or woman a less capable soldier and it certainly does not mean they love America any less.

I applaud President Obama and Admiral Mullen for advocating the end of a policy that has been so openly discriminatory against capable American citizens. While this policy should never have been in place to begin with, I am thrilled that the process has begun to get rid of it. Every man and woman in the military is risking their lives to protect our freedom and our rights, so maybe we can start respecting theirs.