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Resolutions Calling for DADT Repeal Pass in California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2009
CONTACT: Paul DeMiglio, Sr. Communications Manager
PHONE: (202) 621-5408
California Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and San Diego City Council Pass Resolutions Urging Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Washington, D.C. - Today the California State Senate and the San Diego City Council approved separate resolutions in support of federal legislation, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283), which repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law banning gay and lesbian service members from serving openly and establishes a policy of nondiscrimination. Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 9, authored by State Senator Christine Kehoe (District 39), passed (4-1) while the San Diego City Council unanimously approved a similar resolution, sponsored by Councilman Todd Gloria (District 3). This resolution officially puts San Diego on record as endorsing the overturn of DADT.
"We applaud the City of San Diego and the California Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for supporting repeal of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and to putting an end to the firing of service members because of their sexual orientation," said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "Today's vote reflects the views of the vast majority of Americans, both liberal and conservative from coast to coast. The country is ready to get rid of this discriminatory law after 16 years. We encourage other cities to follow what San Diego did, and we urge the State Senate to support SJR 9 when it comes up for a full vote. At least two U.S. service members are fired every day under DADT."
California is home to an estimated 137,000 gay and lesbian veterans (2005), the most of any state in the nation. A June 5th Gallup poll showed that 69 percent of Americans, including a clear majority of churchgoers and conservatives (58 percent), support open military service. Last week the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution calling for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." San Diego joins New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palm Springs, CA, to pass resolutions calling for repeal.
The following veterans spoke in favor of the MREA resolutions at hearings in San Diego and Sacramento earlier today:
• COL Stewart Bornhoft, SLDN Military Advisory Council (MAC)
• CDR Zoe Dunning, US Navy, SLDN Board Co-Chair
• Ben Gomez, US Navy (Ret) and Chapter President, American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) San Diego Chapter
• CAPT Eric McDonald, US Navy (Ret)
• Joseph Rocha, veteran
• LCDR Craig Wilgenbusch, USNR, SLDN MAC
SJR 9 will now go before the full State Senate. A final vote is expected in August.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A journalists' guide is available here.
