Latest News
11-01-08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2008
CONTACT: Adam Ebbin
(202) 621-5416/aebbin@sldn.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis criticized retired Air Force General Merrill McPeak's recommendation to keep the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that prohibits individuals from serving openly in the military based on sexual orientation.
McPeak was quoted Friday in U.S. News and World Report's "Washington Whispers" in support of maintaining the ban on open service.
"Apparently General Merrill McPeak does not get it. Fortunately, Senator Obama does. The senator favors repeal of DADT and supports open military service, and rightly so. We urge him to ignore the General's ill-advised comments," Sarvis said. "Gen. McPeak underestimates our service members when he suggests they are not ready or professional enough today to manage open service. However, we agree with General McPeak that DOD will be key in implementing successful open service. We fully expect to see a partnership with the White House, Congress and DOD in getting that done and done right, and we believe that day is not too far away. Finally, the parallel the general draws between racial integration and homosexuality is embarrassing to all.
"President Truman issued that order after years of building a solid foundation. We don't know where the general has been for the past decade, but a similar foundation building has been taking place regarding open service. Nearly 150 members of the House of Representative have cosponsored a bill to permit gay open service and nearly 79 percent of the American public favors lifting this bad law."
According to a 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, more than 800 military personnel discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" were in "mission critical" positions, including linguists, medics, pilots and intelligence analysts.
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.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Criticizes Retired General Merrill McPeak
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2008
CONTACT: Adam Ebbin
(202) 621-5416/aebbin@sldn.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis criticized retired Air Force General Merrill McPeak's recommendation to keep the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that prohibits individuals from serving openly in the military based on sexual orientation.
McPeak was quoted Friday in U.S. News and World Report's "Washington Whispers" in support of maintaining the ban on open service.
"Apparently General Merrill McPeak does not get it. Fortunately, Senator Obama does. The senator favors repeal of DADT and supports open military service, and rightly so. We urge him to ignore the General's ill-advised comments," Sarvis said. "Gen. McPeak underestimates our service members when he suggests they are not ready or professional enough today to manage open service. However, we agree with General McPeak that DOD will be key in implementing successful open service. We fully expect to see a partnership with the White House, Congress and DOD in getting that done and done right, and we believe that day is not too far away. Finally, the parallel the general draws between racial integration and homosexuality is embarrassing to all.
"President Truman issued that order after years of building a solid foundation. We don't know where the general has been for the past decade, but a similar foundation building has been taking place regarding open service. Nearly 150 members of the House of Representative have cosponsored a bill to permit gay open service and nearly 79 percent of the American public favors lifting this bad law."
According to a 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, more than 800 military personnel discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" were in "mission critical" positions, including linguists, medics, pilots and intelligence analysts.
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.
