Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Tom Carpenter—In His Own Words

As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, former Marine and most senior director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (“SLDN”), the hearing before the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is a very significant and historic event to me. I am confident it is the beginning of the end of the misguided law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. When candidate Bill Clinton announced to some of my friends in Los Angeles that he would lift the ban on GLB servicemembers, little did he know the firestorm that would erupt during the first months of his administration when he tried to fulfill this pledge. He faced open opposition from the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as leaders of both parties. As Congressional hearings began, the late Tom Stoddard, who was leading the Campaign for Military Service, an organization supporting lifting of the ban, asked me to come to Washington to help lobby Congress. Since the late Sen. Strom Thurmond had appointed me to the Academy, I was asked to meet with his staff and the staff of former Sen. Sam Nunn. This was not a pleasant mission. It was apparent to me, from the comments of these staff members, mostly retired military officers, that the best we could hope for was the compromise proposed by the late Charlie Moskos, which became known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. It was clear to me that this law was bankrupt from its inception for one simple reason- it was contrary to the military’s highest core values of honor and integrity. In 1996, SLDN’s co-founders, Michelle Beneke and Dixon Osburn asked me to join the Board. I gladly accepted the invitation with the knowledge that the road ahead would be difficult and often painful. SLDN was at that time, as eloquently stated by retired Commander and present Board co-chair Zoe Dunning, the 911 for Servicemembers who ran afoul of this new law. Over the past 15 years SLDN has helped over 8,000 troops. During that same period nearly 12,500 have been discharged under the law and tens of thousands have left the service because they could no longer live a lie. I have met hundreds of these patriots- these are not mere numbers to me, but human beings who have suffered loss of careers and often abandonment by family and friends. Those who were discharged under the law are branded forever by their discharge certificate which states they were fired because of “homosexual conduct”, even though they did nothing more than tell the truth when asked about their sexual orientation. One of my closest friends, also a Naval Academy graduate and former Marine, became so depressed by the loss of his career, he took his own life. They are all casualties of a law that is un-American and must be repealed. Thankfully, the American people get it. In several recent polls, 75 percent support open and honest service. There has been a sea change since 1993, and now is time for Congress to carry out the will of the people. With our country engaged in two wars and the land forces stretched to the breaking point, we need every patriot who wants to serve their country. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR1246) would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. This bill has 143 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. The hearing this week is the first step in the process of educating members of Congress about why the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” must go. I have great faith in the innate fairness of most of my fellow citizens-including members of Congress. This is their opportunity to right a wrong. If they listen to the compelling testimony about this injustice, I am confident they will find their way to do what is clearly in the best interest of the country we all love- repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law by enacting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. -Tom Carpenter

Labels: Hearings, MAC, MREA

07-21-08