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The short explanation of this alert was:

Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), chair of the House Armed Services Sub-Committee on Oversight and Investigations, re-introduced legislation to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay, and bisexual military personnel. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act is supported by 109 original co-sponsors. 

Maryland lawmakers Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (MD-1), Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8) and Rep. Albert Wynn  (MD-4) are among the co-sponsors.  Please encourage Maryland Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), and John P. Sarbanes (MD-3) to join them in co-sponsorship.

According to the Service Members Legal Defense Network, in FY 2005, the military dismissed 49 medical personnel, 40 law enforcement officers and 14 intelligence officers. The Army dismissed 35 infantrymen in 2005, as well as seven nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialists. The Navy discharged 17 air crewmen under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during the same year. A total of 742 service members were dismissed in 2005; the total since the law’s implementation in 1993 is more than 11,000.

On average, the armed forces fire 2 -3 service members under the law each day.

Public opinions polls have found overwhelming support among the public for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A 2006 Zogby Poll, commissioned by the Michael D. Palm Center, also found that nearly 4 out of 5 service members report they feel comfortable around gays and lesbians.

There are tens of thousands of lesbian and gay service members on duty today and many more lesbian and gay veterans have served our nation previously.

For more information on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," please click here.

 

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