May. 8, 2010 – Dear Mr. President,
When you delivered your State of the Union address in January, youeloquently spoke the following words to Congress and the nation:
"We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promiseenshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all createdequal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abideby the law you should be protected by it…"
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finallyrepeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the countrythey love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do."
At the time, we seemed to be making progress. You committed to finallyend the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy once and for all, this year.Then in February, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told acongressional hearing that "we have received our orders from theCommander-in- Chief and we are moving out accordingly." Bothannouncements were heartening.
However, as you know, Secretary Gates sent a letter to House ArmedServices Chair Ike Skelton on April 30 which appears to indefinitelydelay the possibility of moving forward with the repeal of DADT untilthe Pentagon completes a review of the policy.
In his response, Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said:
"As a result of the Commander in Chief's decision to defer toSecretary Gates' wishes and timeline, gay service members will continueto be treated as second class citizens, and any sense of fairness maywell have been delayed for yet another year, perhaps for anotherdecade."
I share the concerns of Mr. Sarvis. And so do millions of Americans, asreflected in a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showing 75% supportallowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Americansclearly understand that if someone is brave enough to take a bullet forthe USA, then they should have the same equal rights guaranteed toevery American under the law — whether they are serving in themilitary, or when they come home.
While I understand the need to research how repealing DADT will affectmembers of the military, the law can still be repealed with animplementation timeline this year.
The time to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is now. I urge you to takeimmediate action to insure that Congress includes the repeal of DADT –with an implementation timeline — in the Defense Authorization billcurrently under consideration.
I am sharing this open letter with my friends in the Courage Campaignand Democracy for America communities, thousands of whom will join mein signing a petition asking you to take leadership to repeal DADT thisyear. You can read the petition — and Americans can sign on to it –here:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontWaitDontDelay
One of our nation's most precious and fundamental values is the guarantee of equal rights for every American.
Gay and lesbian Americans have demonstrated their courage and giventheir lives in service to our country since our nation's military wasfounded. Now it's time to allow them to say who they are.
On behalf of Courage Campaign and Democracy for America members, thankyou for your consideration of this critical national security issue.
– Howard
Gov. Howard Dean, MD
Founder, Democracy for America
P.S. On Tuesday, May 11, more than 300 military veterans will gather inWashington, D.C. to lobby Congress to repeal DADT this year. If youhaven't heard about this event, being organized by ServicemembersUnited and the Human Rights Campaign in partnership with a broadcoalition of organizations including the Courage Campaign, please clickthe link below:
http://www.VeteransLobbyDay.org
Hot on the heels of his surprise appearance at last week's DADT protest in DC, Howard Dean has released an open written to the President asking him to keep the promise he made to repeal the policy. In it, he notes his concern that the repeal could be delayed "indefinitely," due mainly to that now infamous letter by Robert Gates.
Dean writes: "Americans clearly understand that if someoneis brave enough to take a bullet for the USA, then they should have thesame equal rights guaranteed to every American under the law — whetherthey are serving in the military, or when they come home.
While I understand the need to research how repealing DADT will affectmembers of the military, the law can still be repealed with animplementation timeline this year.
The time to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is now. I urge you to takeimmediate action to insure that Congress includes the repeal of DADT –with an implementation timeline — in the Defense Authorization billcurrently under consideration."
Dean has also teamed up with the Courage Campaign and Democracy for America to create a petition urging the President to repeal DADT this year. Sign the petition here.
Read Dean's letter in its entirety, AFTER THE JUMP.
