Repeal Without Delay
The first-ever Senate bill to repeal the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy (which bans openly gay Americans from serving in our armed forces) was introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) on March 3 and is cosponsored by 28 senators and counting. Among the cosponsors of this landmark legislation is Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), who yesterday spoke out in favor of repeal without delay.
Yesterday was also a National Veterans Lobby Day on "Don't Ask Don't Tell." Advocates for repeal are pushing for the Defense Authorization bill to include repeal language, and to attach that sort of measure to this year's bill in committee, 15 votes are needed. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to President Obama's desk: it was also the same vehicle used to pass the policy originally in 1993. Our members of Congress need to hear why we support repeal, and why it cannot wait.
That is why the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) launched a campaign earlier this month called "Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama," a new media campaign designed to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. Every morning approaching the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN shares an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. SLDN is urging President Obama to include repeal in the Administration's defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to gather the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal in this bill.
Check out the stories of these men and women, and write emails to your members of Congress to urge them to support repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" this year.
That is why the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) launched a campaign earlier this month called "Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama," a new media campaign designed to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. Every morning approaching the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN shares an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. SLDN is urging President Obama to include repeal in the Administration's defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to gather the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal in this bill.
Check out the stories of these men and women, and write emails to your members of Congress to urge them to support repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" this year.