Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

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Last week, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) introduced legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and ensure that all qualified Americans can serve openly in the military regardless of sexual orientation. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act will replace the current law with new provisions prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. "This law has failed our country and our military for 15 years," Rep. Tauscher said in her announcement. "It harms military readiness and discriminates against patriotic young men and women who want to serve their country. It's time for Congress to right this wrong."

Now that Rep. Tauscher's done her part, it's time for us to do ours. Help make sure the Military Readiness Enhancement Act passes through Congress and reaches the President's desk. Write to your representative now and ask him or her to co-sponsor it. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act will replace the ban with a nondiscrimination policy that will make our military not just more fair, but more effective. Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was first imposed 15 years ago, over 12,500 service members have been discharged. It's estimated that every year 3,000 men and women who want to enlist or re-enlist decide not to because of this law.

With a new commander-in-chief who supports lifting the ban, we've got a good shot at making it happen this year -- but we've got to get a law to his desk for his signature. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act is our opportunity to strike down a bad federal law. Help make the bill's chances of passage as strong as possible by urging your representative to become a co-sponsor today.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: A Fairer and More Effective Military

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm writing to urge you to become a co-sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which Rep. Ellen Tauscher introduced on March 3. The bill would ensure that all qualified Americans can serve openly in the military regardless of sexual orientation.

We need a strong and effective military. We need to end the ban that keeps patriotic and dedicated Americans from serving our country. It is time to allow gay men and lesbians to serve their country openly and honestly.

By co-sponsoring the measure, you won't just be helping to make our military more fair. You'll also be making our overstretched armed forces more effective. Right now, thousands of brave and talented people are prevented from enlisting or re-enlisting because of the ban.

It's time to replace "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" with a fairer, smarter policy.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 12, 2009

Background Information

Last week, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) introduced legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and ensure that all qualified Americans can serve openly in the military regardless of sexual orientation. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act will replace the current law with new provisions prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is unfair and expensive.

Pentagon and Government Studies Support Gays in the Military:

A 1993 RAND report concluded that the U.S. military could lift the gay ban without detriment to military readiness.
Two PERSEREC reports (1988, 1989) concluded there was no empirical evidence supporting the gay ban and that there was no empirical data suggesting gays differ from heterosexuals on any performance measure.

Taxpayers Have Spent More Than $360 Million to Fire Gays from the Military:

The Pentagon has spent over $200 million taxpayer dollars to replace service men and women discharged under ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? since 1993, according to a 2005 GAO report.
A 2006 Blue Ribbon Commission Report found that the total cost of implementing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" between fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 2003 was at least $363.8 million.

National Security Agencies Do Not Discriminate Against Gays:

The CIA, FBI and NSA do not discriminate based on sexual orientation. Except for the military, the federal government does not discriminate based on sexual orientation.
Many defense contractors hire gay employees who work alongside U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Public Supports Gays in the Military:

79% of Americans agree that openly gay Americans should be allowed to serve in the military, up from 57% in 1992. (CNN, 2007)

America’s Allies Support Gays in the Military:

Most allied forces working alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq allow gays to serve openly.
Studies of gays in the militaries of Australia, Israel, Great Britain and Canada have shown integration to be a non-event.

Gays are Serving with Honor and Distinction Right Now:

Lesbians, gays and bisexuals are serving and have served in the U.S. military in every conflict since the American Revolution.
There are at least 65,000 gay Americans serving on active duty and in the National Guard and Reserves, according to the Urban Institute.
Today there are at least one million gay veterans in the United States, according to a recent Urban Institute study based on 2000 Census data.

We have a chance to repeal DADT, but we need to get this legislation on President Obama's desk as soon as we can. Help by asking your elected officials to sign on as co-sponsors and supporters.