Top 10 Reasons to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
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1. END DISCRIMINATION
No other law mandates firing someone because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual.
2. STRENGTHEN MILITARY READINESS
At a time when our armed forces are increasingly strained, “Don’t’ Ask, Don’t Tell” has resulted in the discharge of over 11,000 service members, including dozens of Arabic linguists and hundreds of people with skills for which the military is experiencing critical shortages.
3. SAVE TAX PAYER MONEY
A 2006 Blue Ribbon Commission report found that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” caused the Pentagon to waste over $360 million in tax payer funds between 1994 and 2003.
4. HONOR OUR TROOPS
The at least 65,000 lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans currently serve in the US Armed Forces, and one million gay veterans, should not be treated as second class citizens.
5. STOP THE DOUBLE-STANDARD
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” requires gay service members to hide the truth about who they are, which runs counter to the military’s ideals of honesty and integrity.
6. STAND UP FOR WOMEN
While women comprise 15% of military personnel, they account for 30% of discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
7. JOIN OUR ALLIES
American troops serve without incident side-by-side with personnel in foreign militaries and national security agencies which do not discriminate based on sexual orientation.
8. REPEAL THE HYPOCRISY
Consistent with trends in past conflicts, discharges have dropped about 50% since 9/11.
9. LISTEN TO THE EVIDENCE
Every report commissioned by the Federal government has concluded that the ban could be lifted without determent to readiness.
Recent polls show about three-quarters of the American public believes that lesbians, gays, and bisexuals should be able to serve openly.
