Editorial Shows Need for Swift Senate Vote
Today’s editorial in The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) discusses how the pending discharge of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach from the Air Force underscores the injustice of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the need for congressional action to finally end this discriminatory law:
“Fehrenbach has flown nearly 90 missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo over his 19 years of service. He is one year shy of qualifying for retirement benefits, and he fears that he will soon be discharged. He has been forced to take a desk job but would love to be deployed again. His attorneys estimate that the military has spent $25 million training him over the course of his career. …”
“That’s why Congress needs to end this discrimination. The House has passed an end to the ban as part of a larger defense bill. The Senate hasn’t done anything. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is conducting an insulting survey of how homosexuality affects heterosexual service members and their spouses as part of a larger study of the issue. Sample question: “If a gay or lesbian service member lived in your neighborhood with their partner, would you stay on-base or would you try to move out?”
“Whether someone is discharged should be determined on a case-by-case basis, not on a presumption that a particular sexual orientation is intrinsically corrosive. The exemplary careers of Witt and Fehrenbach demonstrate why.”
Tell your senators that Victor’s case is a reminder of why they need to vote for repeal soon after they return from August recess on Sept. 13. Call, write and set up an in-state meeting with both your senators today.
08-26-10 By Paul DeMiglio, Senior Communications Manager |
1 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Bill on August 26, 2010 at 09.03 pm
Let’s hope wavering Senators for ending DADT will indeed be given a civil liberties spine by last minute LGBT constituent visits in their home states. But, there is a new hope for ending DADT. In all the news today is Ken Mehlman, “the most powerful Republican in history to identify as gay.” (Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic). Sadly, Mehlman’s coming out is bit late because his history is one of phenomenal destruction to the American LGBT community. His remarkable past power and talents may well have carried Bush II into a second term as President, especially because of voters in Ohio who had been stirred up into homophobic frenzies by carefully crafted fears and hatred. He was a key player in the team that got so many states to pass draconian prohibitions against gay marriage. Today he says his coming out process is “something I wish I had done years ago.” Many millions of LGBT Americans also wish he had found himself earlier. All we can hope for now is that he fully takes advantage of his unique position and profound obligation to make amends in the broadest way possible. TV news today suggests he might like to get married and is now helping to make gay marriage possible. He should write an insider history of Republican homophobia. More relevant here, he can help end DADT. R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans, ubiquitous on today’s TV news, optimistically observed Mehlman can now be a “force multiplier with a Rolodex.” Let’s hope so. Let’s also hope he can multitask. While continuing to support the fight for gay marriage, how about a visit to every senior Republican Senator in his Rolodex. As Senators look their old friend in the eye, he should demand they promptly save the career of LTC Fehrenbach, a hero beyond the imagination of most congressional homophobes and political cowards. Mr. Mehlman might miss a few days at his high paying job while visiting Washington DC, but amends are never easy when past moral crimes are great.