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Go slow on repeal

A Pentagon review of the effects of ending the ban on open service by gays is barely underway. Yet lawmakers already are rushing ahead with legislation to repeal the ban.

There are reasons to move deliberately on this issue. Topping the list is the distraction factor — the extent to which a change will affect military readiness, combat effectiveness and unit cohesion.

There is also much practical work to be done. Policies must be developed, which means ferreting out all possible situations that could occur; training will be necessary, not just for the rank and file, but for all levels of leadership; the Uniform Code of Military Justice will have to be amended so that homosexual acts are no longer illegal.

But the most important consideration will be the views of the force.

Some advocates for gay rights argue the troops’ views are irrelevant. But while it’s true that troops carry out orders regardless of whether they agree with them, it would be a mistake not to elicit their views in detail in advance of a policy change

Understanding the depths of their views and the underlying concerns that make people most uncomfortable about allowing gays to serve openly is the first step toward writing policies that protect the rights of all service members, gay and straight.

The fact remains that a slim majority of service members still opposes open service by gays, some in stark and ugly terms. If troops feel body-slammed by lawmakers — few of whom have ever served — the potential for anti-gay violence may well rise.

But if giving troops a chance to be heard can help ease a potential transition, it will be worth the wait. Congress should let the Pentagon review play out before trying to legislate this change on its own.