|
 Top Vet In Congress Calls For Repeal Of Ban On
Gays In Military
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: May 6, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET
(Washington) Rep. Sestak (D-PA) is the latest in
a growing number of former military brass calling for the repeal of "Don't Ask,
Don't Tell" law banning lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel from serving
openly in the military.
Sestak (pictured), who had served as a three-star Admiral and who
spent thirty-one years in the Navy, is the highest ranking military veteran in
Congress.
"It is easy for me to see why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' should be
repealed," Sestak told the Equality Forum.
"Once you have served in war and faced danger
with a gay service member, how can you come home and say gay people should not
enjoy equal rights? It is simple. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' must be
repealed."
Sestak joins 16 other veterans in Congress who
are co-sponsors of legislation to lift the ban on openly gay service.
"Veterans like Admiral Sestak, who have dedicated their lives to serving
this country, are leading the movement in Congress to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal
Defense Network.
"These lawmakers agree with senior military
officers, including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John
Shalishkashvili and retired Army Major General Vance Coleman, that when it comes
to defusing IEDs, tending to injured troops, deciphering enemy codes and flying
reconnaissance missions -- sexual orientation is irrelevant. Seventy-nine
percent of the American people agree with them and it is time that Congress
finally repeal this law."
Last month, Lawrence J. Korb,former Assistant
Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan, told a joint hearing of the
House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the House Armed
Services Readiness Subcommittee to "get rid of outmoded social
restrictions," such as DADT.
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act which
would repeal the decade old DADT has bipartisan support and hearings are
expected to be held this year.
Conservative groups are urging retention of the
ban.
Last week, Americans For The Military, part of
the conservative Center for Military Readiness, began circulating a petition
online to pressure members of Congress to keep DADT.
"Our nation's military should not be used as
a tool to advance the goals of gay activist groups," the petition to
members of Congress says.
"Forcing a sexual agenda on the armed forces
would hurt discipline and moral ... As an American I ask that you uphold this
law to help to protect and preserve our military."
Under DADT two people
every day are dropped from the military for being gay.
In the 10 years that DADT has been in force more
than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of thed policy, including
800 with skills deemed 'mission critical,' such as pilots, combat engineers, and
linguists.
The number of gay men and lesbians turned way by
military recruiters is unknown.
A study conducted last year for SLDN concluded
that the U.S. military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays and
lesbians in the military were able to be open about their sexual
orientation.
Data released in April by the House Oversight and
Government Reform Committee show that the Army and the Marine Corp, under
pressure to increase their numbers, have sharply raised the number of recruits
who have felony convictions.
The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries,
other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved
manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions. Several dozen Army and Marine
recruits had aggravated assault or robbery convictions, including incidents
involving weapons.
©365Gay.com 2008
|
Entertainment
