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New York Times: Letting Gays Serve Openly
The New York Times
Opinion
Letter: Letting Gays Serve Openly
Published June 15, 2009
To the Editor:
Re "The Ban on Gays in the Military" (editorial, June 10):
We applaud the editorial advocating a swift end to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. We, too, think President Obama should consider all viable options he can take on his own to get rid of this discriminatory law, including issuing a "stop-loss" order.
Whatever action the president decides to take, however, must serve as a catalyst to kick-start the legislative process in Congress, where the ultimate prize - undoing the law - will be won. It's time for the Obama administration to present its plan for repeal, in writing, to Congress.
Many lawmakers are looking to Mr. Obama for his guidance. So are the estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian active-duty service members. And so, too, according to the latest Gallup poll, are a majority of conservatives and weekly churchgoers who now support allowing gay people to serve their country openly.
Aubrey Sarvis
Exec. Dir., Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Washington, June 11, 2009
