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Show Respect to All Troops, Chairman Skelton

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) said Tuesday that he was against passage of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal in part because he thinks it would force families to discuss homosexuality. “What do mommies and daddies say to their 7-year-old child?” he asked reporters during a news media breakfast. On May 28 The Independence/Blue Springs/Oak Grove Examiner, which serves Rep. Skelton’s district, ran an op-ed by the chairman opposing DADT repeal.

Last night former SLDN client and US Air Force Medical Corps Captain Beth Schissel responded to his op-ed in a letter to the editor:

Skelton helped author “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 1993. He ignored solid evidence then that homosexuals serving openly would not harm good order in the ranks and he ignores it now. Instead, he remains part of a small group of people who are willing to sacrifice the integrity of the armed forces and the safety of our country because of their own fears and stereotypes about homosexuality.

Now is the time for advocates of repeal in all 50 states to make their voices heard to their Senators. Call your Senators today and write letters to the editor calling for repeal as we approach historic votes in the Senate later this month or in July.

06-11-10 By Paul DeMiglio, Senior Communications Manager |