76 House Democrats Urge Obama to Halt Gay Military Discharges
A letter organized by Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings went to the White House today urging Obama to halt military discharges of gay and lesbian servicemembers. The letter was signed by 76 House Democrats, the Boston Globe reports:
"In the most vocal plea yet for the White House to take the lead in
pushing for gays and lesbians to be allowed to serve openly in the
military, 76 Democratic lawmakers today urged President Obama to use
his executive powers to order a halt to military discharges under the
controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and work aggressively with
Congress to pass new legislation to overturn what they describe as a
discriminatory policy that harms national security. 'We urge you to exercise the maximum discretion legally possible in
administering Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell until Congress repeals the law,'
states the letter... 'To this end, we ask that you direct the Armed Services not to
initiate any investigation of service personnel to determine their
sexual orientation, and that you instruct them to disregard third party
accusations that do not allege violations of the Uniform Code of
Military Justice.'"
Read the complete letter and see who signed it, AFTER THE JUMP...
***
The Honorable Barack H. Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Obama:
The United States of America prides itself on having the finest military in the world because of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of our brave servicemen and women. And yet, under 10 U.S.C. § 654 (Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces), better known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the talents and contributions of our openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members continue to be ignored simply because of who they are. Every day, we lose approximately two service members to this misguided, unjust, and flat-out discriminatory policy. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not only an injustice to them, but a disservice to the U.S. military and our country as a whole.
As you know, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was signed into law in 1993 by former President Bill Clinton as a compromise to allow gay and lesbian service members to serve in the military - so long as they did not disclose their sexual orientations. Fifteen years later, Don't Ask Don't Tell is instead negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of these military professionals and depriving our Armed Forces of their honorable service. Since you took office on January 20, 2009, more than 250 gay and lesbian service members have been discharged under this law, which continues to undermine and demoralize the more than 65,000 gay and lesbian Americans currently serving on active duty.
Although we are confident that you will remain true to your campaign promise to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, our LGBT service members and our country's national security will continue to suffer if initial action is delayed until 2010 or 2011. We urge you to exercise the maximum discretion legally possible in administering Don't Ask, Don't Tell until Congress repeals the law. To this end, we ask that you direct the Armed Services not to initiate any investigation of service personnel to determine their sexual orientation, and that you instruct them to disregard third party accusations that do not allege violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That is, we request that you impose that no one is asked and that you ignore, as the law requires, third parties who tell. Under your leadership, Congress must then repeal and replace Don't Ask, Don't Tell with a policy of inclusion and non-discrimination. This bilateral strategy would allow our openly gay and lesbian service members to continue serving our country and demonstrate our nation's lasting commitment to justice and equality for all.
As the United States continues to work towards responsibly ending the War in Iraq and refocus on the threat from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, our LGBT service members offer invaluable skills that enhance our country's military competence and readiness. Despite the great strain on our military's human resources, the Armed Forces have discharged almost 800 mission-critical troops and at least 59 Arabic and nine Farsi linguists under Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the last five years. This is indefensible. The financial cost alone of implementing Don't Ask, Don't Tell from Fiscal Year 1994-2003 was more than $363.8 million. Our nation's military has always held itself to the highest standards, and we must recruit and retain the greatest number of our best and brightest. To do anything less only hurts our country's military readiness and our service members.
We also want to bring to your attention the most recent examples of the failed Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in action. New York National Guard First Lieutenant Dan Choi and Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach are two exceptional servicemen who have dedicated their lives to defending our country and protecting the American people. Their bravery and abilities have been tested in combat, and now they face impending discharge under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
First Lieutenant Choi, a current National Guardsman with the 1st Battalion of the 69th Infantry in Manhattan, is a West Point graduate, Arabic language specialist, and Iraq War veteran who is under investigation for refusing to lie about his identity.
Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach, Assistant Director of Operations for the 366th Operations Support Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, has honorably served his country for 18 years as an F-15E pilot. He has received nine air medals, including a Medal for Heroism during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and was hand-picked to protect the airspace over Washington, D.C. after the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2001. Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach, who has flown combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda, continues to serve while the recommendation for his honorable discharge moves forward to a review board, and eventually to the Secretary of the Air Force. Just two years away from his 20-year retirement, he stands to lose $46,000 a year in retirement and medical benefits for the rest of his life if discharged.
The American people and service members of the Armed Forces overwhelmingly support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. According to a national Gallup poll conducted in May 2009, 69 percent of Americans, including 58 percent of Republicans, favor allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military. Furthermore, a 2006 poll of 545 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan by Zogby International and the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara revealed that 73 percent are personally comfortable with gay men and lesbian women. John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Clinton administration, and more than 100 retired admirals and generals support this repeal, in addition to the Human Rights Campaign, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and Knights Out, an organization of LGBT West Point alumni co-founded by First Lieutenant Choi.
Mr. President, we cannot afford to lose any more of our dedicated and talented service members to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. On behalf of First Lieutenant Choi, Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach, and the more than 12,500 gay and lesbian service members who have been discharged since Don't Ask, Don't Tell was implemented in 1994, we stand ready to assist you in repealing this dishonorable and debilitating law as soon as possible, and in restoring justice and equality in our Armed Forces.
Please know that we will continue to monitor this situation and are hopeful that, together, we can address this urgent issue soon. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response.
***
The letter was authored by Hastings and signed by Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-CA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), José Serrano (D-NY), James Moran (D-VA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), James Clyburn (D-SC), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Robert "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Melvin Watt (D-NC), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Jane Harman (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), John Larson (D-CT), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), David Wu (D-OR), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Mike Honda (D-CA), James Langevin (D-RI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-FL), André Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), Phil Hare (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Joe Sestak (D-PA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Jared Polis (D-CO), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Gregorio Sablan (D-MP).
Posted Jun. 22,2009 at 3:11 PM EST by Andy Towle in Alcee Hastings, Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Military, News | Permalink
I am disappointed that my Democratic Party congressman still refuses to state his opinion on discharging military members for being gay. Joe Baca D-CA has been very evasive with his staff in providing me with his opinion.
I wish we had reapportionment with an independent board for congressional seats so congress members would not be so complacent with their constituents.
Posted by: Matt from California | Jun 22, 2009 3:18:37 PM
Shouldn't those 76 members of the house be drawing up legislation to repeal DADT?
Posted by: d | Jun 22, 2009 3:19:12 PM
Thank God for them (though I suspect they're merely reacting to the cutoff of gay funds). Obama could have done this on his own on day 1.
Posted by: paul c | Jun 22, 2009 3:25:14 PM
D, there is already legislation its HR 1283. We need to encourage congress members to co-sponsor the legislation AND to get it moving. And if your congress member is on the armed services committee tell them to move it so we can get it on the floor!
We are at 147 co-sponsors, lets try to get some Republican co-sponsors like Mark Kirk and Mary Bono Mack, and get our Democratic Party legislators like Congressman Baca on board too.
Since our "fierce advocate" does not want to use the power of the executive order, we have to use our voices to tell congress to do what President Obama refuses to do.
Posted by: Matt from California | Jun 22, 2009 3:27:18 PM
Glad to see my rep, Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) signed the letter.
If your rep signed, be sure to write and thank him/her. If your rep did not sign, be sure to write and ask why.
Posted by: Hank Drake | Jun 22, 2009 3:39:03 PM
Where's Pelosi?
Posted by: expedito | Jun 22, 2009 3:56:44 PM
Glad to see mine on there too (Jim Moran, D-VA)!
Posted by: Billy | Jun 22, 2009 4:02:44 PM
I'm worried that if Obama does stop the dismissal of gays the way that congress wants, then they will feel as though the repeal of DADT will no longer be a priority. I fear the momentum to repeal it will wane and ultimately the repeal will not happen before Obama leaves office. What I would like to see is movement in the Senate because they have done nothing in regards to DADT. Starting now will speed up the passage in the notoriously slow Senate. This serial approach is so slow.
Posted by: DanM | Jun 22, 2009 4:22:36 PM
continue the pressure on the dems--they are hearing it and we could get quick results!
Equal rights!!
Posted by: steve | Jun 22, 2009 4:27:06 PM
There's a Republican in that list, too - Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL.
So glad to see my Congressman (Clay, D-MO) on there, along with Rep. Cleaver from the Kansas City side of Missouri. Both are also co-sponsors of HR1283.
Since there's currently no bill analogous to HR1283 in the Senate, I'm working on my Democratic Senator (Claire McCaskill) to step up and introduce one. It's time to see how she really stands on our issues.
Posted by: jeem | Jun 22, 2009 4:57:09 PM
i just completed a letter to my congressman xavier becerra asking him to join his colleagues in support of this issue.
Posted by: alguien | Jun 22, 2009 5:24:06 PM
Thanks for posting the representatives, I just wrote mine in Texas (the only one so far) to thank him
Posted by: RONTEX | Jun 22, 2009 5:53:12 PM
Always proud to have my Indiana congressman standing up for gay rights (Andre Carson)
Posted by: KFLO | Jun 22, 2009 6:44:42 PM
I'm glad to see mine, Mike Capuano and so many from Massachusetts listed....not all of them though. Lets get them moving!
Posted by: declan | Jun 22, 2009 6:56:54 PM
Where we these guys when I was in the mlitary?
Posted by: Cincinnati NAMjA | Jun 22, 2009 7:17:22 PM
FANTASTIC NEWS! [This is kinda like donors putting pressure on the DNC.] And ironic given that today is the 21st anniversary of the death of the first servicemember to fight the ban THIRTY-FOUR YEARS ago...Leonard Matlovich...before the wonderful Dan Choi was even born.
Yes, actual repeal is something that must be worked toward, but if the lives of any of the naysayers here were caught in the DADT vice I don't think THEY would be quibling about which branch of government freed you from it.
It is waaaay past tiime the Commander-in-Chief remembered his own better angels and froze discharges now with an executive order, memorandum, whatever . . . and that he became a "drum major for justice," leading the way for Congress to fully repeal.
When that day happens, I hope the President will place a wreath on Leonard’s grave in appreciation of all he, Dan Choi, Victor Fehrenbach, Margaret Witt, and untold numbers of other gay vets have done.
Posted by: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com | Jun 22, 2009 7:39:29 PM
Dear fab 76 -
Action by legislation, not words.
Posted by: David | Jun 22, 2009 11:12:55 PM
All of you congraduating these 76....Don't! They are as guility as Obama. We must have legislation!!!
If you think, for one minute, the DNC is not behind those 76 putting out a STATEMENT/REQUEST to call to end DADT, you are mistaken. They have taken no risk and no chances to put LEGISLATION to a vote for our rights.
Action by legislation, not words! I see 76 people who type words of support. Support we have, "always" had from the DNC.
Posted by: David | Jun 22, 2009 11:22:56 PM
My rep (Carolyn Maloney) signed, but I sent letters of thanks to all 11 New York representatives who participated. I added that I would be watching very closely for swift movement on legislation to finally repeal DADT once and for all.
Is the House letter a "stunt"? Well, welcome to politics, people. Whatever the case, actions are slowly being taken and (hopefully) congress and this administration are finally getting a clue. Time will tell, but until then it's all about keeping the pressure on --both positive and reproachful.
Posted by: ichabod | Jun 23, 2009 11:00:49 AM
Legislation not words!!!
Sen maria cantwell (washington state- Dem) does not have a position publicly on the repeal of doma??? This is unacceptable! Please email /call her office and oush her to make a stand NOW!
Posted by: steve | Jun 23, 2009 4:10:02 PM
Is there a reason why Nancy Pelosi didn't/can't sign it? She may be Speaker, but she is also a Congresswoman and is suppose to respresent her district.
Posted by: CB | Jun 24, 2009 5:34:26 AM
What's too bad is that Obama, even though he's a pussy, has the chance to go down in history as a civil rights champion, just as Lyndon Johnson did. But what will probably happen is that the next president will get that honor, and a few thousand lives will be ruined in the interim.
Posted by: JustMeee | Jun 24, 2009 11:24:29 PM