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Tucson, Arizona calls on Congress to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
TUCSON, AZ - Mayor Bob Walkup and the Tucson, Arizona City Council have approved a resolution calling on Congress to repeal the military�s �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. The resolution, which has been forwarded to President George W. Bush and the entire Arizona Congressional delegation, states in part that �Military readiness is enhanced when every qualified, capable American, regardless of sexual orientation, is welcomed into our Armed Forces and has his or her talents utilized in the best interest of our national security.� The Tucson measure follows similar resolutions from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Saint Louis.
�Communities from coast to coast realize they are less safe when qualified men and women are turned away from our fighting forces simply because they are lesbian or gay,� said Steve Ralls, director of communications for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). �More than 22,500 lesbian and gay veterans call Arizona home. The Tucson resolution pays tribute to their service and the ongoing service of more than 65,000 lesbian and gay troops on duty in our armed forces today. Congress should follow the lead of Tucson and demand an end to �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� once and for all.�
The House of Representatives is currently considering The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional bill, sponsored by Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), to repeal �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell.� Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) are among 131 bi-partisan co-sponsors of the legislation. Arizona Senator John McCain (R-AZ), also a 2008 Republican presidential candidate, re-iterated his support for the military ban during an appearance in New Hampshire earlier this week.
�This policy represents the only example in the United States of legislation that requires discrimination,� said Pamela Liberty, co-chair of the City of Tucson GLBT Commission. �On average, two service members each day are discharged solely on the basis of sexual orientation. . . . We are proud of our Mayor and Council Members for adding their voices to the growing demand to end this discriminatory policy.�
For more information on �Don�t Ask, Don�t Tell� and local resolutions supporting repeal, visit www.sldn.org.
