This blog comments on an Op-Ed in the NYT by a gay man who joined the Navy, studied Arabic, and became an Arabic translator, but before he was to be deployed to Iraq he was kicked out of the military under the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. He is one of about 58 Arabic linguists that have been kicked out under this policy when we have a significant shortage of people serving in the military and elsewhere who are fluent in Arabic and can thus translate the intelligence that our troops and national security agencies gather. I link the safety of the troops and our national security interests should take precedence over the homophobia or unease that some people have over gays, especially the Religious Right, which only fuels fears and negative attitudes toward homosexuals at every turn, while the Republican Party continues to pander to them at every turn and while "centrist" Democrats continue to act as enablers.