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.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a constituent and a voter, I urge you to co-sponsor the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, to repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute governing military service by lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans.

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act was reintroduced by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) on February 28 with the support of 109 bi-partisan cosponsors. I urge you to support this measure by adding your name to that list today.

Only one law in the United States mandates firing someone because of his or her sexual orientation. That law is 10 U.S.C. 654, also known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and it applies to all Americans serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including active duty, Reserve, and National Guard personnel. Over two million Americans serving in uniform today are bound by this discriminatory law; among them, an estimated 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans in uniform live with the constant threat of a career-ending discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This is no way to treat patriotic Americans who volunteer to serve our nation in its time of need.

Over 11,000 Americans have been discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the last twelve years - an average of two people per day. Our government has spent over $363 million in tax payer dollars firing desperately needed military linguists, pilots, doctors, intelligence analysts, nurses, and others with critical skills we need in this time of conflict. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is wasteful, discriminatory, and harms our military.

I urge you to please support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act by becoming a cosponsor.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 05, 2007