DontAskDontTell:ATestoftheFirstAmendment ByTomMitchell TheFirstAmendmentandtheBillofRightsarethesymbolsofAmericanFreedom.Thefreedoms containedintheBillofRightsguarantees,isunlikeanyotherinthehistoryofgovernments.TheFirst AmendmentguaranteeseveryAmericanthefreedomsofspeech,religion,pressandpeacefulassembly. Itisalsoaverycontroversialdoctrineandacauseofgreatdebatesoveritsinterpretationinthepast twohundredplusyears.Today,theFirstAmendmenthascontinuestocreategreatdebatesovera recentcontroversialtopicinthenews,theMilitarysDontAskDontTellPolicy.Mostofusmayhavean opiniononthistopic,butexactlywhatisthecorrectinterpretationundertheFirstAmendment?A correctinterpretationcanonlybederivedfromhistoryandpastrulingsontheFirstAmendment.What doeseducationandpasthistorytellusabouttheDontAskDontTellPolicy? AsCarlSagan,aPulitzerPrizewinningauthorsaidinthechapterARealPatriotAsks Questions,inhisbookDemonHauntedWorld:ScienceasaCandleintheDark.

.Educationonthevalue ofthefreespeechandtheotherfreedomsreservedbytheBillofRights,aboutwhathappenswhenyou donthavethem,andabouthowtoexerciseandprotectthem,shouldbeanessentialprerequisitefor beinganAmericancitizen(407408).Sagansbiggestconcernispeoplewouldmakejudgmentsnot basedoneducationoftheFirstAmendmentorBillofRightsbutotherinfluenceswhichwouldeliminate thefreedomswecurrentlyhave.AccordingtoSagan,educationonthevalueswithinBillofRightsshould beanongoinglearningtoolforallAmericansespeciallywithtodaysheadlineandthewayitwould affecttheFirstAmendment.If,wethepeoplethroughourJudiciaryBranchoftheUnitedStatesareto seekacorrectandproperinterpretationtothesecomplexissueswemustunderstandthevalueofthe FirstAmendmentandwhatitstandsfor.Wethepeoplemustaskquestionstofurthereducate ourselvesonthefreedomsweenjoyintheFirstAmendmentandtheBillofRights.Iponderedthese

ideasandcametotheconclusionIdidntknow.WhentalkingabouttheFirstAmendmentwithfellow studentstheythoughtitwasanotherhistorylessonuntilIbroughtuptheDontAskDontTelltopicin thispaper.Oncetheyunderstoodtheyhadaninstantopinion,yetknewnothingofwhattheFirst Amendmentsaidorstoodfor. TheFirstAmendment,asratifiedin1789,states:Congressshallmakenolawrespectingan establishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexerciseofthereof;orabridgingthefreedomof speech,orofthepress;ortherightofthepeopletoassemble,andtopetitiontheGovernmentfor redressofgrievances(UnitedStates).TheFirstAmendmentisthefoundationfortheremaining Amendments.Withoutit,wemaynothavetherighttobeararms,dueprocessoflaw,electionsor votes.Theremaynotbeanycivilrightsorequalityamongstmen,women,racesorreligions.Wewould nothavetherighttoexpressourselvestothegovernment.Mostofusareforfreedomofexpression whentheresadangerthatourownviewswillbesuppressedwasSaganoutlook(402).Wewould neitherhavelibertynorfreedomtochosewhatwedoorwherewedoit.InmyownwordstheUnited Stateswouldbenothingmorethanaconformtogovernmentenvironmentwhetheritwouldbea lesserformofcapitalism,socialism,dictatorshiporatotalitariangovernment. Iamafirmbelieverinthephilosophythatyouhavetoknowwhereyoucomefrombeforeyou knowwhereyouaregoing.InordertounderstandtheFirstAmendmentwemustlookatthehistory priortotheRevolutionaryWarandourrelationshipwithEngland.EnglishCommonLawdidinclude FreedomofSpeechwhichbroadlygovernedeverythingfromindividuals,religionandpress.Therewas alsoadistinctionofthislawforEnglishcommonersandmembersofParliament.Parliamentmembers hadthefullFreedomofSpeechwhilecommoners,religionsandthepressdidnot.Peoplecouldhave freedomofspeech,religionandpressunderEnglishCommonLawunlessthegovernmentdeemedit

improperandagainstthegoverningstateofEngland.Mostreligionswerenotexcludedfromtheselaws, eventhoughatonetimetheyhadtherighttospeakthroughthepress.Thismeantanyformofspeaking outagainstpredominateProtestantBritishGovernmentwasprohibitedunderthesepretenses. AmericanColonistsofthe1760ssoughtrepresentationintheEnglishParliamentandwere denied.OvertheyearsColonistshaddevelopeddistinctivenessseparatefromEnglishcommonersand felttheirexistencewarrantedavoiceinParliament.Whenthecolonistsweredeniedthesameasthe Englishcommonerstheysoughtfreedom.AsstatedbyKeithWerhan,TheAshtonPhelpsChairof ConstitutionalLawattheTulaneUniversityLawSchool,inhisbookFreedomofSpeech:ReferenceGuide totheUnitedStatesConstitution,Thatsenseofdistinctivenesshelpstoaccountforthecolonists refusaltoacceptEnglandspositionthattheywerevirtuallyrepresentedinParliamentbythevotesof theEnglishcommoners(Werhan,6).ThelibertysearlyAmericansoftheRevolutionaryErahadwerea directresultofbeingsubjectsofEnglandandreallydidnotwanttoseparate.TheAmericansposition changedwhentheyrealizedtheselibertieswerejeopardizedbythepowersgoverningthemwhichfailed toacknowledgetheexistencewithavoiceintheparliament.Thecolonistsprobablyhadmore freedomsofspeechthantheircounterpartinEnglandbecauseofmuchmorerelaxedcontrolofactual lawsduetodistanceandtraveltimefromthehomeland.Thecolonieshadmoreorlesshadalreadylaid sovereignclaimtothenewworldcalledAmerica. ItwasbecauseofalackvoiceinEnglandandothercircumstanceslikepersecutionforspeech, religiontonameoffew,iswhytheRevolutionaryWarwasfought,aswethepeoplesoughtourfreedom fromtheBritish.EvenafterthewartherewerethosewhosoughtGeorgeWashingtonaskingandothers whowouldenactlawssimilartoEnglishCommonlaws.Whileourfoundingfathersweresettingupour governmenttheydebatedonexactlywhatfreespeechshouldbe.OnJune8,1787,JamesMadison introducedhisproposedBillorRightstotheHouseofRepresentatives.MadisonsversionoftheFirst Amendmentwasdesignedtoprotecttherightofpeacefulassembly.However,itsaidmorethanjustthe

rightofpeacefulassembly.Madisonlinkedfreedomofassemblywithfreedomofspeechandfreedom ofthepressasalternativemeansbywhichpeoplemaycommunicatetheirwilltotheirrepresentatives ingovernment(Werhan,10).ThislinkingplustheadditionoffreedomofreligionshapedtheFirst Amendmentwhichwasratifiedin1789.ThiscorrelationwasalsonotedbySagan,Thesystemfounded byJefferson,Madisonandtheircolleaguesoffersmeansofexpressiontothosewhodonotunderstand itsoriginsandwishtoreplaceitbysomethingverydifferent(403).Evenintodayssocietythisstill holdstrueasweallhavedifferentinterpretationsontopicsrelatedtotheFirstAmendment. TheConstitutionwasoursovereignclaimtoexistinthisworldasanationandtheBillofRights gaveUnitedStatescitizensunprecedentedfreedomtheworldhasneverseenbefore.TheFirst AmendmentwasapprovedbyafifteenmemberoftheSenateinSeptemberof1789.ThefirstTen Amendmentshelpedshapedtherestoftheseventeenamendmentsandensurethespiritofthe freedomweenjoy.TheBillofRightsensuresourexistence,ourfreedomandprotectionfromour government.Itprotectsusagainstfederal,stateandlocalgovernmentsandthosewhomaysuppress ourhumanrightsiftheBillofRightsdidnotexist.Sagantookthisprotectiononestepfurther,The protectionfortherestofusistousethesameBillofRightstogetacrosstoeverycitizenthe indispensabilityoftheBillofRights(404).Itisourresponsibilityascitizenstoinsureourfreedoms remainintactundertheBillofRights.Today,theBillofRightsandtheFirstAmendmentcontinuesto insureourfreedomsasAmericancitizens. ThecurrentbattleoftheUnitedStatesMilitaryDontAsk,DontTellPolicyonGayRightsisahot topic.ThepolicyunderTitle10,UnitedStatescode,ArmedForcescurrentlyreadsassuch:"Conduct sufficienttowarrantdischargeunderthestatute,however,includesaservicemember'sstatement"that heorsheisagayorbisexual,orwordstothateffect."10U.S.C.section654(b)(2)(LibraryofCongress). Thepolicyforbidsgaysfromopenlydeclaringtheirsexualorientationwhileservinginthemilitary,and anysuchdeclarationcouldbepunishablebydischargeandnottomentionthementalpunishment

receivedastheresultsof.ThemostrecentadaptationwasundertheClintonAdministrationforwhichit receivedtheDontAsk,DontTellmoniker.Itveryapparentthemilitaryoperatesoutsidethesame lawsthatgovernU.S.CitizensincludingtheFirstAmendment.SoldiersarestillU.Scitizenswhileunder oathtoserveourcountryandthereforeshouldbeentitledtothesamefreedomsallAmericansenjoy. Formorethan15yearsthedebateoverthiscontroversialpolicyhasseenitsshareofappealsand overturnsandnowawaitsforFirstAmendmentinterpretationbycourtsunlessCongressincludesitas partofthecurrentDefenseBudgetthatiswaitingforvote. TheMilitaryspositionissimple,itisbadformoralandwouldnotconstituteastrongArmed Forces.Theprimaryjustificationprofferedforthedon'task/don'ttellpolicyisunitcohesion. Goodmorale,discipline,andtheabilitytorecruitandretainmilitarypersonnelarerelatedsub interests(Findlaw.com),asnotedbythebytheUnitedStatesCourtofAppeals,NinthCircuit.The presumptionofthisargumentisifitisoffensivetoheterosexualsandthenonlyunitcohesionwouldbe compromised.Thereislittlefactualevidencetosupportthisclaimotherthendirectreportsbythose whoareoffended.ThePentagondidsendoutsome400,000surveysearlierthisyeartoactiveduty personnel,NationalGuardmembersandfamiliesregardingtheirviewsongayorlesbiansopenlyserving inthemilitary.The103questionsurveywasheavilycriticizedbygayandlesbianadvocaciesandmilitary personnelforitscontents;itdidshowawillingnessbytheDepartmentoftheDefensetoaddressthe issue.Advocatesadvisedgaymilitarymembersnottocompletethesurveyastheirresultswouldbe guaranteedtobeusedinthestudy.TheresultsofthesurveywerereleasedonDecember1,2010and arereportedlaterinthispaper.Thesurveyresultsareonlyrecommendationsandnotanactual decision.Itismoreimportanttolookatsomeoftheotherstatistics,historyandviewpointsthatmay contributetoapossibleinterpretationoftheDontAskDontTellpolicyandtheFirstAmendment.

TheWilliamsInstitute,UCLASchoolofLawinMayof2010updatedsurveyestimatesthere approximatelyseventyonethousandgay,lesbianorbisexualmenandwomeninthemilitary.Ofthat 71,000,approximately48,500areservingeitherinactivedutyorinthereadyreserve,theportionofthe guardandreserveforceswhoaremostlikelytobecalledintoactiveduty(Gates,2010).Thiswould slightlowerthenEllenKozel,NationalPresidentofVetsDoAskdoTell,aVeteransLesbian,Gay,Bisexual andTransgenderEducationorganization,herestimatesareatleast250,000gaysineitherthemilitary, guardorveterans.InmyinterviewwithKozel,whoisgayandaVietnamVeteran,stated,Thereisno wayofknowinghowmanygaymenorwomenserveorservedintheMilitarybecauseofthispolicy.For yearsservicemenandwomenhaveliedonsuchsurveysforfearofrepercussionsiffoundout(Kozel). GaysoldiersareAmericancitizensyetfearlosingtheirjobsiftheyexercisetheirFirstAmendmentRights bydeclaringtheirsexualpreference. IfIinterpretTheFirstAmendmentasFreedomofSpeechforallAmericancitizensregardlessof theirjobthenthisshouldapplytoourservicemembers.Militarypersonnelhaverightstovoteand counttowardlaborstatisticsalongwithmostotherfreedomsundertheConstitutionandBillofRights. Themilitarydoesnotdiscriminateagainstrace,creedorcolororgender,aslongasyouareaUnited StatesCitizen.Yet,theDontAskDontTellpolicyisinconsistentinwithotherbranchesoftheUnited Statesgovernmentbecausetheydonotbanorforbiddeclarationofsexualpreferencebygay,lesbian, bisexualortransgenderpeoplefromworkingwithintheirranks.Sincehomosexualityisnotagainstany lawsinthiscountrywheremightthebancomefrom?Perhapsitderivesfromreligiousviewsbecause mostthepredominantreligiousorganizationsintheUnitedStatestendfrownuponthegaylifestyle. Thereissupposetobeaseparationbetweenchurchandstate.IftheFirstAmendmentisinterpretedin thisfashionthenthemilitarybranchoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentwouldbeoutsidethisboundary. LogicthentellsusallmilitaryservicemembersshouldbeentitledtotheFreedomsundertheFirst

Amendment.However,peoplewhoareGayareanexceptiontothisandithascostthousandsofpeople theirmilitarycareersregardlessofhowwelltheyperformedonthejobandtheirloyaltytotheir country. Kozeldocumentedsupportintheareaofperformancesassheprovidedseveralemailsfrom activeserviceheterosexualmembersspeakingoutagainstthebanonhomosexualsinthemilitary.Some ofthecomefromofficersandhighrankingenlistedpersonnelwhoarenowoverlookingtheDontAsk DontTell(DADT)policytokeepgoodworkingservicemenandwomenwithexemplaryrecordsthat happenedtobegay.Accordingtoa2010reportbytheWilliamsInstitute,athinktankatUCLAthat focusesongaylegalandpolicyissues,theU.S.ArmedForcesspendabout$22,000to$43,000toreplace eachindividualdischargedunderDADT,andthedischargescontinuetoday(Constant,n.p.)asnotedin arecentNewsweekarticle.Newsweekestimatesabout11,000servicemenandwomenalready dischargedsince1993underthispolicyithascostthetaxpayersatleast$473,000,000toreplacethem (Constant,n.p.).ThedollaramountbeingspenttoreplacegaysisunwarrantedexpenseforAmerican citizensforexercisingtheirFirstAmendmentRightsespeciallyiftheyaredoingthejobprotectingout greatcountry.Kozelputitthisway,Theenemysisnotprejudice;theirbulletdoesnotdifferentiate whoisgayandwhoisnot(Kozel). ThebanongaysintheMilitaryhasalreadycostseveralservicemenandwomenofallranks withexceptionalbackgroundstobedischargedbecauseofopendeclarationundertheFirstAmendment orcoercedinsomecases.SuchisthecaseofAlexandraEverett,aformerMarineMajorwhoservedfour toursofdeploymentstoIraq.EmailsfoundonaMilitarycomputerfromanotherwomanimplying Everettwasgay.StephenHoldenrecentlywroteamoviereviewAMarineStoryintheNewYork Times,Becausesheisgayandcloseted,shereluctantlyleavestheservice,withnoideawhattodowith

therestofherlife(NewYorkTimes).Thisisanexampleofmanysuchcasesinvolvinggaysinthe militarybeforeandaftertheDontAskDontTellPolicywasputinplace.Inthiscase,Everettdidnot openlydeclareshewasgayanditwasthroughsecondarychannelsthatforcedherintothesituation whereshehadto. AstrongdocumentedcaseinvolvingDontAskDontTellandtheFirstAmendmentwasthe Philipsvs.Perry(MarkA.PHILIPS,PlaintiffAppellant,v.WilliamPERRY,SecretaryofDefense;John Dalton,SecretaryoftheNavy;M.B.Margosian,CommandingOfficer,TransientPersonnelUnit,Puget Sound,DefendantsAppellees.)(Findlaw.com),whichconcludedin1997.Itexemplifiesthe inconsistenciesofCongressandtheMilitaryofoperatingoutsidetheboundariesoftheFirst Amendmentandothers.TheattorneysforPhelpsarguedtheMilitaryspositionviolatedtheFirst Amendmentandnoted,Thefirstofourliberties,thefreeexerciseofreligion,alsoexistsinthearmed servicesinlessthanitsconstitutionalamplitude.Inemployingitspowertoraisetroops,Congresshas beengivenalmostafreehandtoprefersomereligionsoverothersandtoexemptsomecitizensfor religiousreasonsandtodenyexemptionordischargefromservicetoothercitizensalsoappealingtothe freeexerciseofconscienceasrecognizedbytheConstitution(Findlaw.com)fromthecaseNegrev. Larsen,in1971.ThiscourtdocumentationshowsthemilitaryoperatesoutsidetheconfinesoftheFirst Amendmentasthereisnodistinctionbetweenchurchandfaith.Sincethemilitaryalsoemploys Chaplainsofthemostcommonreligiousfaiths(Catholic,Lutheran,ProtestantBaptist,Jewish,etc)and thesereligionshavenegativeviewsagainsthomosexuality.Therefore,itappearsthemilitarylaw governingthebanongayshaspotentialreligiousinfluencesandthepolicywouldbeaprejudiceview againstgaysintheirranks.ThisviewpointisdifferentfromtherestoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentas theywillfullyemployeegaypersonnel. Furthermore,thepunishmentadministeredundertheUniformCodeofMilitaryJustice(UCMJ) isalsoinconsistentinitsrulingsbetweengaysandheterosexuals.InanotherexertofthePhilipsvs.Perry

caseasdocumentedbytheUnitedStatesCourtofAppeals,NinthCircuit,thattheuniverseof homosexualactsthatthegovernmentmighthaveaninterestinpreventingconsistsofsexual misconductsuchassodomy,whichtheUCMJpunishesforheterosexualsandhomosexualsbutwhich section() 654punishesmoreseverelyforhomosexualsinthatheterosexualsfoundtohaveviolated theUCMJareevaluatedonacasebycasebasiswhereasgayservicemembersaredischargedpursuant to 654(b)withnodiscretionaryreviewoftheiractualjobperformance;andsexualconductofany othersort,whichthepolicypunishesforhomosexualsonlyandforwhichheterosexualsarenot punishedatall(Findlaw.com).HomosexualityisnotacrimeintheUnitedStates,yetthemilitaryclears punishespeoplewhoaregayandhasnoregardforcivilrightsoftheseAmericancitizens.Itisclearin pastcourtcasesthemilitaryoperateunderadifferentsetofrulesthanwhatwasoutlinedintheFirst (Speech),Fifth(dueprocessoflaw)andtheFourteenth(CivilRights)Amendments.Inspiteofbeing correctonallthesepoints,PhilipswasnotreinstatedasaNavalPettyOfficerasthecourtruledwiththe Militarywhichwasagraveinjusticetohim.PhilipsdidexactlywhatSagannotedweshoulddowhenhe quotedSupremeCourtJusticeRobertH.Jackson,Itisnotthefunctionofourgovernmenttokeepthe citizensfromfallingintoerror;itisthefunctionofthecitizentokeepthegovernmentfromfallinginto error(396).IthinkSaganwouldhaveapprovedthewayPhilipsandhisattorneyspointoutthese discrepanciesanderrorsinthemilitarybranchoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentanddisapprovedofthe results. OneofthehiddenunderlyingproblemstheDontAskDontTellpolicyisthemajorityofgay veteransbelievetheVeteransAdministrationhasthesamepolicyinplace.KozelalsonotedOur veteranslivedinfearofthemilitarybanongaysandthathasextendedtotheVeteransAdministration HealthCareSystem.Mostveteransfeartheywilllosetheirbenefitsiftheydisclosethesexual orientation(Kozel).ShealsoaddedthisisnottrueabouttheVAHealthCareSystemastheynowhave

specialunitsthatworkwithgay,lesbian,bisexualortransgenderveterans.Reachingandeducation themisthehardpart.Simplyputthelongtermpolicyondenyinggay,lesbian,bisexualortransgender hasalienatedthesebravemenandwomenfromutilizingthebenefitsastheystillfeelthecensorship fromthemilitary. Thisisnotthesametreatmentforciviliansnordoesthegovernmentitself,inotherbranches, bangay,lesbian,bisexualortransgenderfromemploymentsothemilitarypositiondoesnotrepresent wethepeople.TheessenceofthismilitarypolicydoesnotadheretotheFirstAmendmentrighttofree speech,theFourteenthAmendmentoncivilnordoestheUCMJadheretotheFifthAmendmentofequal justiceforall.Simplyput,ourmilitaryisnotabovethelawsofthiscountryandtherightsbestowedtoit citizens.FreedomofSpeechistheutmostimportantthingthatdefinesourgreatnationfromanyother country.ThecaseofPhilipsvs.PerryshoweddiscrepanciesinhowtheUnitedStatesmilitarybranch operatesoutsidetheconfinesoftheConstitutionandBillofRights.WeasUnitedStatescitizensmust alwaysquestionwhatourgovernmentdoestoinsureitisheldsteadfasttotheConstitutionandtheBill ofRights.AsSagansaid,Ifwecantthinkforourselves,ifwereunwillingtoquestionauthority,thenwe arejustputtyinthehandsofthoseinpower(408).Itisonlybecausewequestionauthoritychange comesforthinourgovernment.ItisthisquestioningthatledtothePentagonsurveytomilitary membersandtheirfamiliesninemonthsago.ThePentagonsurveyreleasedDecember1,2010showed 70%believethatservingwithopenlygayservicememberswouldnotharmtheirunit'sabilitytowork together.Thatmirrorsthe70%ofthepublicthatfavorslettinggaysserveopenlyinthearmedservices (USAToday).ThemembersofthepanelheadingthesurveybasicallysaidTheresultsofthissurvey showstransitiontochangecurrentmilitarystatusisminimalandthepanelrecommendsarepealof DontAskDontTellpolicy(TheDepartmentofDefense).ItwaswithprudencethatJudgeVirginiaA. PhillipsoftheFederalDistrictCourtfortheCentralDistrictofCaliforniaissuedaninjunctionbanning

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enforcementofthePentagon'sDon'tAsk,Don'tTelllaw(Schwartz,n.p.).Hadthebangonethroughit mayhaverenderedtheresultsofthesurveyuselessandaswellaspreventedfurtheractionsforrepeal. Thoseinpowerareourelectedofficialsandifwedontquestionwhattheydowewillperishas anation.TheFirstAmendmentgivesusthisrightuntilourdyingbreath.Ifwecaneducateourselves thenyoumightseethetruespiritoftheFirstAmendment.Ifwedonotourgovernmentwouldbe totallydifferent.PerhapsitwouldbeaformofCommunismlikeNorthKoreaordrugcartelcontrolled likesomeSouthAmericancountries.Maybeourgovernmentwouldhavereligiousaffiliationlikethe MiddleEastwherewarringhasbeengoingonforthousandsofyearsandthepeopleknownopeace. MaybethisiswhySaganthoughthighlyofourfoundingfathers,Thefoundersofournationrecognized thatthecloserelationsbetweengovernmentandanyofthequarrelsomereligionswouldbefatalto freedomandinjurioustoreligion(Sagan).Maybeforonegenerationthegreatestmenthatwalkedthis earthlivedtogivebirthtotruefreedomonlyfoundintheUnitedStates. TheimpacttheFirstAmendmenthasontodayssocietyisimmenseasshownbytheDontAsk DontTell.TheFirstAmendmentsallowsus,asanation,theopportunitytochangeandtogrowtonew lengthifweareinvolved.Alotofpeopledontseeitthisway,theyonlyseetheirownpointofviewand ifthreatened,willingtogiveupsomeoftheirrightssotheoppositionwouldbedepressed.Whatifyou weretoldyouwouldbepunishedifyouspokeoutagainstthePresidentoryoursenator?Whatifyou weretoldyoucouldntpracticeyourreligionhere?Howwouldyoufeel?Honestly,howwouldyoureally feel?Areyouwillingtospeakupforyourfreedomsandbeliefstochangethis?PerhapsasUnitedStates Citizensweneedtoaskourselvesthefollowingquestions.DoI,personally,believeintheFirst Amendment,theBillofRightsandtheConstitutionastheguidingLightthatmakestheUnitedStatesthe freestandgreatestnationtolivein?Andasacitizen,doIbelieveitismypatrioticresponsibilitytostand upandspeakoutagainstthecurrentwrongsinourgovernmentsandtoinsureourgovernmentsdoes nottakeanyofmyrightsoffreedomaway?

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TheFirstAmendmentstates:Congressshallmakenolawrespectinganestablishmentof religion,orprohibitingthefreeexerciseofthereof;orabridgingthefreedomofspeech,orofthepress; ortherightofthepeopletoassemble,andtopetitiontheGovernmentforredressofgrievances(The U.S.NationalArchives&RecordsAdministration,web).TheFirstAmendmentisthemiddlegroundfor allpeople,races,religiontocoexist.ThisiswhyIfirmlybelieveitisthemostspiritualdocumentonthe faceoftheplanet.Itestablishesmiddlegroundforallandforalltospeaktheiropinions,rightwrongor indifferentregardlessofourbackgroundorbeliefs.Itgivesusfreedomtobewhoweare,citizensofthe UnitedStatesofAmerica. WorksCited Conant,Eve."DOASKDOTELL."Newsweek156.14(2010):3437.AcademicSearchComplete.EBSCO. Web.4Dec.2010. DocumentaryHistoryoftheFirstFederalCongress17891791;JournaloftheFirstSessionoftheSenate oftheUnitedStates.1.Baltimore,MD:TheJohnHopkinsUniversityPress,1972.166.Print. Gates,GaryJ."Lesbian,gayandbisexualmenandwomenintheUSmilitary:Updatedestimates."The WilliamsInstitute,UCLASchoolofLaw.UCLASchoolofLaw.May2010.Web.22Nov2010. www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute Kozel,Ellen.PersonalInterview19,Nov2010. Sagan,Carl.RealPatriotsAskQuestions.TheDemonHauntedWorld:ScienceasaCandleintheDark. NewYork:TheRandomHouse,Inc.,1996.396408.Print. 12

 Schwartz,John."U.S.JudgeHaltsDon'tAsk,Don'tTellLawfortheMilitary."NewYorkTimes(Late NewYorkEdition)(October132010)P.A1,A17,(2010). "Surveyprovidesnewfodderfor'don'task,don'ttell'repeal."USATodayn.d.:NewspaperSourcePlus. EBSCO.Web.7Dec.2010. TheDepartmentofDefense,(2010).Reportofthecomprehensivereviewoftheissuesassociatedwith arepealofdontask,donttell.TheDepartmentofDefense.1Dec.2010.Web:6Dec.2010.< www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0610_gatesdadt/DADTReport_FINAL_20101130(secure hires).pdf> "Title10,U.S.code,ArmedForces."TheLibraryofCongress.TheLibraryofCongress,10Nov2010.Web. 21Nov2010.<www.loc.gov>. UnitedStates."TheChartersofFreedom,BillofRights."TheNationalArchivesandRecords Administration.TheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration,Oct2010.Web.5Oct2010. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html> Werhan,Keith.AHistoryofFreedomofSpeechintheUnitedStates.FreedomofSpeech:Reference GuidetotheUnitedStatesConstitution.12.Wesport,CT:Praeger,204.125.Print.

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