Latest News
02-04-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2009
CONTACT: Kevin Nix
PHONE: (202) 621-5402 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
Amid Flurry of Existing Studies, White House Might Be Considering yet Another on Gays in Military
SLDN: Anything but another Study
WASHINGTON, DC -- According to the Boston Globe, the Obama Administration is apparently considering or might consider commissioning a study before moving ahead on eliminating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"We oppose another ‘study' regarding ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Commissioning a study is Washington-speak for kicking the issue down the road because ‘we don't want to deal with it right now.'"
During the campaign, the president repeatedly called for the repeal of the law, which forbids gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
"The president didn't say on the campaign trail that he would re-visit or review or reconsider ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' leaving wiggle room for a future study. He said categorically in public appearances and on his web site that he "will work with military leaders to repeal the current [Don't Ask, Don't Tell] policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals."
Reams of credible, non-partisan, or bipartisan studies have been conducted on the impact of gays in the military. They include: "Working Group of Retired General/Flag Officers Condemns Gay Ban" (Palm Center, 2008); Blue Ribbon Commission report, co-authored by former defense secretary William J. Perry (UC-Santa Barbara, 2006); RAND report (1993); two official military studies (1989 study by the Defense Personnel Security Research Center and the Navy's 1957 Crittenden report); and academic studies published in military journals. All conclude gays and lesbians serving openly in the military do not undermine military readiness, troop morale, and/or national security.
"There are at least a dozen studies or papers on this topic, and all, without exception, say the same thing," said Sarvis. "We would, however, support a 90-day implementation study (a review of how to successfully implement a new non-discrimination policy) if the Pentagon thought that was necessary."
DADT is the only federal law that requires employers to fire employees for being openly gay or lesbian. Since 1993, 12,500 men and women have been discharged under the law.
On Sunday, President Obama told NBC's Matt Lauer that his administration is "going to roll out in a very formal fashion what our intentions are in Iraq as well as Afghanistan."
Sarvis: "We wish the president would do the same for ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Let's hear about his intentions and timetable for repeal."
SLDN is not rushing repeal; a measured approach to the issue is critical. The economy and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are paramount right now.
"But there will be a window of opportunity later this year for the Administration to really begin tackling the issue. We're hopeful they will see the upsides to moving ahead this year on repeal."
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available at http://sldn.3cdn.net/43b1d9fec919b5918b_1zm6bxv9l.pdf.
Amid Flurry of Existing Studies, White House Might Be Considering yet Another on Gays in Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2009
CONTACT: Kevin Nix
PHONE: (202) 621-5402 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
Amid Flurry of Existing Studies, White House Might Be Considering yet Another on Gays in Military
SLDN: Anything but another Study
WASHINGTON, DC -- According to the Boston Globe, the Obama Administration is apparently considering or might consider commissioning a study before moving ahead on eliminating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"We oppose another ‘study' regarding ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Commissioning a study is Washington-speak for kicking the issue down the road because ‘we don't want to deal with it right now.'"
During the campaign, the president repeatedly called for the repeal of the law, which forbids gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
"The president didn't say on the campaign trail that he would re-visit or review or reconsider ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' leaving wiggle room for a future study. He said categorically in public appearances and on his web site that he "will work with military leaders to repeal the current [Don't Ask, Don't Tell] policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals."
Reams of credible, non-partisan, or bipartisan studies have been conducted on the impact of gays in the military. They include: "Working Group of Retired General/Flag Officers Condemns Gay Ban" (Palm Center, 2008); Blue Ribbon Commission report, co-authored by former defense secretary William J. Perry (UC-Santa Barbara, 2006); RAND report (1993); two official military studies (1989 study by the Defense Personnel Security Research Center and the Navy's 1957 Crittenden report); and academic studies published in military journals. All conclude gays and lesbians serving openly in the military do not undermine military readiness, troop morale, and/or national security.
"There are at least a dozen studies or papers on this topic, and all, without exception, say the same thing," said Sarvis. "We would, however, support a 90-day implementation study (a review of how to successfully implement a new non-discrimination policy) if the Pentagon thought that was necessary."
DADT is the only federal law that requires employers to fire employees for being openly gay or lesbian. Since 1993, 12,500 men and women have been discharged under the law.
On Sunday, President Obama told NBC's Matt Lauer that his administration is "going to roll out in a very formal fashion what our intentions are in Iraq as well as Afghanistan."
Sarvis: "We wish the president would do the same for ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Let's hear about his intentions and timetable for repeal."
SLDN is not rushing repeal; a measured approach to the issue is critical. The economy and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are paramount right now.
"But there will be a window of opportunity later this year for the Administration to really begin tackling the issue. We're hopeful they will see the upsides to moving ahead this year on repeal."
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available at http://sldn.3cdn.net/43b1d9fec919b5918b_1zm6bxv9l.pdf.
Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.