|
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen told Congress last week to wait to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
I must respectfully disagree - and I have a grassroots community of tens of thousands of people just like you who signed my petition and who disagree as well.
We're not just talking about statistics here. These decisions will change the lives of our brave gay and lesbian servicemembers who are currently serving in our armed forces. Last year at least 443 of our best and brightest were discharged under this outdated policy and that's 443 too many.
You and I agree: "Don't, Ask, Don't Tell" is both wrong for our national security and inconsistent with the moral foundation upon which our country was founded. In the halls and elevators of Congress, I am privately and publicly urging my colleagues to repeal this policy this year before we lose one more man or woman to this policy.
My preference is to put repeal into the 2011 Defense Authorization bill. That way, opponents would need 60 votes to defeat it. The Pentagon may want to wait to study the effects of the repeal before it is implemented, but that does not mean we can't vote for repeal this year.
In the meantime, Speaker Pelosi has called upon President Obama to put a moratorium on all discharges. She's absolutely right.
Every single day we ask our brave gay and lesbian servicemembers to lie about who they are and who they love. This must end now - not next year or the year after that.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
|