Generals and Admirals Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Generals and Admirals Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

3/2/2005 8:28:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Steve Ralls of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, 202-328-3244 ext. 116 or sralls [at] sldn.org

WASHINGTON, March 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A group of retired military generals and admirals today announced their support for The Military Readiness Enchancement Act (MREA), which would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military's ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) in the House of Representatives today, along with more than 40 Congressional co-sponsors. Rep. Meehan is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, as are 7 co-sponsors of today's legislation.

The flag officers are among the highest-ranking veterans to publicly support repeal of the military's gay ban. MG Vance Coleman, USA (Retired), RADM John Hutson, USN (Retired), LTG Claudia Kennedy, USA (Retired), BG Keith H. Kerr, CSMR (Retired), BG Evelyn "Pat" Foote, USA (Retired), BG Virgil A. Richard, USA (Retired), MG Charles Starr, Jr., USAR (Retired) and RADM Alan M. Steinman, USPHS/USCG (Retired) today called on Members of Congress to pass the MREA.

"Our national security depends on having the best and brightest Americans protecting our freedoms," said BG Foote, one of the first women to achieve the rank of Brigadier General. "As a commander, I know that lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans have served our country with honor and distinction. Our armed forces should be able to recruit every qualified, capable American to protect our homeland, regardless of their sexual orientation. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not only unnecessary and discriminatory, it is also detrimental to our military readiness. The law does not meet the common sense rule our military should abide by."

In December 2003, BG Kerr, BG Richard and RADM Steinman publicly acknowledged being gay in the New York Times. "I think the real issue is how soldiers do their jobs, not their sexuality," BG Richard later told CNN American Morning. "The policy is not working and it's not working because, as an example . . . the Army and the services are short many linguists and we kicked out (many) over the last couple of years that could have helped our Army." The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported last week that the military has fired 322 language specialists since 1993, including 54 who specialized in Arabic.

"These officers know first-hand the harm 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' inflicts on our armed forces and our nation," said C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Our armed forces need more service members to fight the global war on terrorism. Our country cannot afford a law that jeopardizes the continued service of 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans who now serve on active duty, in the guard and reserves. What truly undermines military readiness is disrupting units by discharging hard-working, skilled and patriotic Americans who happen to be gay. Congress should heed the advice of the generals and admirals today and pass MREA."

The introduction of MREA follows a report from GAO last week. That report concluded "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is costly to our national security. The report stated that taxpayers spent at least $191 million to train and replace the nearly 10,000 service members fired under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The GAO report also acknowledged that its cost estimates did not include training and replacement for officers or those with highly specialized skills.

The United States continues to be one of the last original NATO countries to ban gays from the military. Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was implemented, Great Britain and Canada have lifted their bans, joining Israel and other nations around the world. U.S. forces serve alongside openly gay troops from those allied nations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also today, a coalition of advocacy organizations issued a statement supporting legislation to repeal the ban. The American Civil Liberties Union, American Veterans for Equal Rights, The Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans, Military Community Services Network, The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays and Stonewall Democrats endorsed a joint statement with SLDN which says, "Military readiness is enhanced when every qualified, capable American -- regardless of sexual orientation -- is welcomed in our armed forces and has their talents utilized in the best interest of our national security. We salute our men and women in uniform for their selfless service to our country, and we support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Every American in every community is impacted by the continued discharge of proud, brave Americans who want to serve and are trained to do so. The time has come to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Biographical information on each of the officers, and the text of today's legislation, is available online at http://www.sldn.org.

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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. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org.

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