Folks, I’m going to be honest. We really are getting close to the wire here. Congress needs to act fast or efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will get too close to summer recess and then it’s the midterm elections and we can say goodbye to any chance of repeal. And I’m also going to be honest about this: I know a lot of you don’t really give a damn about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and whether or not it gets repealed. Heck, even my best friend asked me a few months ago why I cared so much about DADT.
Well, I’ll tell you:
First, because it really is the right thing to do. Even President Obama said so, during his State of the Union Address in January:
“This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It’s the right thing to do.â€
Second, speaking of President Obama, it is critical we hold him to his word on LGBTQ issues. He’s already long-lost his self-professed “fierce advocate” label, let’s not let this one go down as another broken promise. If we lose this, so close, with him on record at the State of the Union, we will have zero credibility, and if you care about marriage, or ENDA, or just walking down the street safely as a proud member of the LGBTQ community, it will be that much harder for any of that to happen.
Third, it’s time someone stand up to our military leaders and remind them that America is a land of the people, with a civilian Commander In Chief — who has called for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Will the courageous and historic words for support for repeal by Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen go down as “just words?”
Fourth — and most important — there are an estimated 66,000 LGBTQ servicemembers right this minute serving their nation. Willing to literally put their lives on the line every single day to protect a nation that sometimes, all too often, wouldn’t give them the time of day if they knew they were gay. Why do they do it? Well, as Former Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Christopher Rocha wrote to his Commander In Chief,
They say some people are just born designed for military service. It‘s the way we are wired, and the only thing that makes us happy. For too many of us, it‘s the only family we ever had. I am sure now, more than ever, after all the loss and hardship under DADT, that all I want to do is serve as a career military officer.
We need to get the Senate to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act which will repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And neither Dan Choi nor Jim Pietrangelo can chain themselves to the White House gates any more. It’s time for everyone to get involved.
You don’t have to chain yourself to the White House. All you have to do is click here for the White House’s website to send a message to the President.
And, just as important (maybe more right now) all you have to do is click here to send a letter to your Senators, or to call them. Call them. They love to talk to their constituents. And remember, you pay their salaries.
Time to have a chat. Time to be heard. Time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It’s “the right thing to do.”
Hello, Senator?…
(And get ready: Veterans Lobby Day is May 11, 2010!)
For more, visit:
Servicemembers United
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Human Rights Campaign
GetEQUAL
Queer Rising