The Twists And Turns Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Interesting story on the Defense Department's attempts to keep a gay Congresswoman from bringing her partner on a fact-finding trip. The problem isn't blatant homophobia, but the end-result of a policy of blatant homophobia. Turns out the military brass were worried about what message they'd be sending in the era of Don't Ask, Don't Tell:

The Pentagon appears to be self-conscious about transporting gay domestic partners at a time when it continues to enforce a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in its own ranks. The speaker is sensitive to the gay rights issue but doesn’t want to be drawn into a situation where it appears she is dictating policy for the use of military planes.

I'm not sure what we need more--a national convo on race, or a national convo on sexual prudes.