People for the American Way Comes Out for Repeal
People For the American Way (PFAW) is urging President Obama to fulfill his promise to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).” The President has publicly stated that he will end DADT and the time to repeal the military’s discriminatory policy is NOW. PFAW implores the President to take the lead and include the repeal of DADT in the President's defense budget he is set to send to Congress shortly.
We don’t need more time, studies, or congressional hearings. It is clear DADT is discriminating against some of the most patriotic Americans. Since 1994, over 13,000 dedicated military members have been dismissed due to DADT. An individual’s sexual orientation should never be grounds for dismissal. Imagine fighting on the frontlines for our country, and yet, the chance of being terminated simply because of your sexual orientation is real and always on the back of your mind. Our military service members deserve better than this.
Please sign PFAW’s petition telling the President to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2010.
01-22-10 By Sergio A. Lopez, Field Organizer, People For the American Way |
5 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Rich on January 28, 2010 at 12.59 pm
@Sara
It is pretty offensive to hear someone equate sexual orientation with sexual misconduct in the ranks. Heterosexuals commit sexual misconduct everyday. It happens in the barracks, in training commands, overseas, and in civilian life. They don’t commit misconduct becuase they are heterosexual, but because they lack discipline to adhere to military standards. Undisciplined people will always exist and it has nothing to do with sexual orientation.
I don’t think you realize how demoralizing it is to have someone characterize the entire gay and lesbian experience with “what happens in the bedroom.” When I interact with my counterparts and their spouses in the military, I don’t immediately start having visions of what they’re doing in the bedroom late at night. I don’t pose question to them about their private sex life. Yet, those sort of explicit sexual thoughts are exactly how gays and lesbians are characterized to an extreme degree. There is so much more to a person than what happens in the bedroom. That is why DADT is such an unjust law—it defines a person by a part of their life that is, in the grand scheme of things, inconsequential to their ability to serve the nation or contribute to an improved society in America.
Sara Moreno in Lackland AFB, TX on January 28, 2010 at 11.11 am
I have absolutely nothing agaist gay and lesbian people. I have a few gay and lesbian friends in the Air Force with me that agree when I say that if you take away DADT, it would cause problems.
In Basic Training, any form of sexual activity is justly prohibited. Males and females are kept in seperate dorms and are not even allowed to talk to the opposite sex. If you take away DADT, it poses the problem of Training Instructors having to work around the clock to stay in the dorms and keep things from happening.
How many straight Americans would decide against joining the military if they have it in their head that there will be homosexuals in their barracks?
Of course, the military will always have homosexual and bisexuals but as an Airman recently returning from Afghanistan, I firmly believe that it is unwise to take the policy away.
It’s like the saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
It seems to me that President Obama was looking for the gay and lesbian votes by making this promise during his campaign.
Keep DADT policy or change the whole face of the American Military.
Jack on January 25, 2010 at 11.31 pm
Good idea Mike but change the venue. I have a few straight friends who are recruiters and think the policy is BS.
By going there you are just disrupting the day of some people who are working pretty hard under a policy they might not even agree with. They might even want to join you and can’t imagine that pain
Might I suggest bringing the noise, trouble, and attention to the people who deserve it like your local rep in DC. Nothing says trouble near the mid-term elections like angry protesters outside your office.
Mike Gorman in Stockton, Ca on January 25, 2010 at 01.31 am
I’m protesting my local recruiters station. wanna come join me? Or sit at home on pins and needles hoping for a good word? Planned for Feb. 15.
Catherine Uchino in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2010 at 12.15 pm
Ooh-rah!!