Describe the Equal Rights Amendment. What lesson might the gay ...

[pane00]

Describe the Equal Rights Amendment. What lesson might the gay rights movement take away from the efforts to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What was the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy? What was the penalty for a soldier who violated this policy? Why was it implemented? What is the current status of the policy?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[dmurph1496]

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response will:
1, Describe the Equal Rights Amendment as a failed proposal to amend the constitution to eliminate gender discrimination.
2, Describe a lesson from this effort that might be useful for those advocating for civil rights for gays and lesbians. For example, one lesson might be not to press for full civil rights too soon; rather, it is better to wait until public opinion is more fully on your side.

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response will:
1, Describe the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which stated that the military would not ask about the sexual orientation of soldiers, but that soldiers could not tell others if they were gay or lesbian. Therefore, gays and lesbians could serve in the military, but only if they remained in the closet.
2,. Note that gay and lesbian soldiers who revealed their sexual orientation could be discharged from the military.
3, Explain that the policy was the result of a compromise. Bill Clinton favored allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military, but the military (along with many members of Congress and the public) opposed the policy.
4, Note that Barack Obama signed a law eliminating Don't Ask, Don't Tell and opening the door for gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.