Box Turtle Bulletin

Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen speaks out for repealing DADT

Though the Chiefs of the various military divisions want to delay the repeal of the ban, Admiral Mike Mullen has spoken again today in favor of the timing of the compromise. (Forbes)

“Personal opinion? I believe it’s time. I believe we need to change it,” Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told about 500 service members at Peterson Air Force Base.
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However, Mullen stressed that the change had not yet been approved. And if it is, he said he wouldn’t make any final determinations on how to implement it until the military studies the issue and gets input from troops.

General Shalikashvili responds to letters from Military Chiefs

General John Shalikashvili, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997 when Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was implemented, has responded to letters released earlier today from Military Chiefs who objected to the compromise worked out between the President, Congress, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense.

Dear Senators Levin and Lieberman,

I have reviewed the letters sent by the Service Chiefs today to Senator McCain and Representative McKeon. While I fully agree that Congress should take no action that usurps the Pentagon’s evaluation process and recommendations, there is nothing in those letters that gives Congress any reason to delay enacting the legislative compromise that was proposed this week.

The legislative compromise fully and affirmatively respects the Working Group process. The Working Group has been tasked with contingency planning to determine how best to implement a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Unless Congress repeals 10 U.S.C. § 654, the Pentagon will be powerless to implement the Working Group’s recommendations.

Furthermore, the proposed implementation and certification requirements contained in the legislative compromise ensure that the views of Service members and their families will be respected and given full weight in determining how best to implement this shift in policy. In short, it is not only preferable, but essential, that 10 U.S.C. § 654 be repealed in order for the Service Chiefs to retain the very authority they require to do their jobs effectively.

Military chiefs lobby for ignoring DADT compromise

Senator John McCain (the newly crafted ultra-conservative unhesitatingly homophobic Senator John McCain who magically appeared during the last Presidential election, not to be confused with the previous incarnation of Senator McCain which was moderate, “maverick”, relatively gay friendly, and sought solutions rather than grandstanding) is leading the charge to oppose abandoning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. McCain is in a battle for his party’s continued nomination and apparently he’s decided that he’ll gladly throw his reputation as a statesman to the wind in order to serve yet one more term in the Senate. (yes, I’m bitter)

As part of his campaign in favor of retaining federally mandated institutional discrimination, McCain has solicited and received letters from the various chiefs of staff expressing their dissatisfaction with the compromise.

George Casey, Army

I remain convinced that it is critically important to get a better understanding of where our Soldiers and Families are on this issue, and what the impacts on readiness and unit cohesion might be, so that I can provide informed military advice to the President and the Congress.

I also believe that repealing the law before the completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward.

G Roughead, Navy

I share the view of Secretary Gates that the best approach would be to complete the DOD review before there is any legislation to change the law. My concern is that legislative changes at this point, regardless of the precise language used, may cause confusion on the status of the law in the Fleet and disrupt the review process itself by leading Sailors to question whether their input matters. Obtaining the views and opinions of the force and accessing them in the light of the issues involved will be complicated by a shifting legislative backdrop and its associated debate.

Norman Schwartz, Air Force

I believe it is important, a matter of keeping faith with those currently serving in the Armed Forces, that the Secretary of Defense commissioned review be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the DA/DT law. Such action allows me to provide the best military advise to the President, and sends an important signal to our Airmen and their families that their opinion matters. To do otherwise, in my view, would be presumptive and would reflect an intent to act before all relevant factors are assessed, digested and understood.

James Conway, Marines

I encourage the Congress to let the process the Secretary of Defense created to run its course. Collectively, we must make logical and pragmatic decisions about the long-term policies of our Armed Forces – Which so effectively defend this great nation.

Yes, gentlemen, I get it. You don’t really support the end of anti-gay bias in the Military, you just said that you do in the hopes of continuing the practice until the composition of Congress changes to one which will let it stay in place.

But for me, here’s the bottom line.

This policy is discriminatory. It is based in animus, presumption of superiority, and ignorance. It will change. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether Military leaders or enlisted personnel like it; ours is a civilian controlled military, not the other way around.

So I don’t care if ridding our Military of bigotry is personally inconvenient. I don’t care if it would be a hassle. I don’t give a whit if service personnel feel insulted that they aren’t consulted on federal legislation. And I really give absolutely no value to whether or not you personally favor anti-gay discrimination.

Because you have two jobs: keep our citizens safe, and advance the values of our nation. Not your values, not Senator McCain’s values, but the values protected by our Constitution and enjoyed by our people.

You don’t work for Senator McCain. And while you may report to the President (though apparently with contempt), you don’t work for him either. You work for us and it’s time that you recall it.

And the legislature doesn’t exist to do your bidding. They are elected by the people, they answer to the people, and they enact the laws and policies that the people demand. Sure your advice on military matters is of value, but your objections to their fulfillment of obligations that they made to us are offensive to our very democratic process.

We the people reject your discriminatory policy. You have no veto power. And if you cannot fulfill your duty, then it’s time for you to tender your resignation.

Vote Count on ending DADT looks positive

From the Chronicle

Supporters said Wednesday the Senate Armed Services Committee has enough votes to approve a bill overturning the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

The prediction came after several lawmakers on the panel signaled their support, including Sen. Ben Nelson, a conservative Democrat from Nebraska who had been considered a holdout.

“In a military which values honesty and integrity, this policy encourages deceit,” Nelson said of the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.

If it is presented to the full Senate by the SASC as part of the Defense Authorization Bill, it would require 60 votes to sever it, and is likely to survive the process. The ‘someday when the military decides it’s ready’ provisions may provide the cover for moderate Democrats and Republicans to not fight the issue.

In the House, anti-gay Republicans led by Buck McKeon are trying to use a ‘amend the amendment’ ploy to add endless ‘study’ provisions and delay a vote indefinitely. This probably will not be allowed by the Rules Committee.

Collins supports DADT compromise

Republican Maine Senator Susan Collins has indicated that she will support the compromise worked out between the Obama Administration and Congress over reversing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. (AP)

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican considered a critical vote on the issue, says she will support legislation that would repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Collins is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which was expected to vote Thursday on whether to include the repeal provision in the 2011 defense authorization bill.

The language of the military ban

There has been, perhaps, a bit of confusion about the action currently agreed upon by the Obama Administration and Congress to reverse Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. While the proposed language does not prohibit discrimination against gay people in the Military, it does remove the justification which allows discrimination.

The Military has long considered itself outside of the social contract that provides constitutional protections to civilians. And the legislative, executive, and judicial branches have confirmed this thinking. But while court systems are willing to carve out exceptions for the Military, it still does answer to Congress and the Constitution is presumed to be in effect except where otherwise stated.

It is likely that the removal of the ban on gay soldiers – whether closeted or not – will be treated as a de facto ban on an anti-gay discrimination policy and that any attempts by either a future administration or a military branch to blatantly and proactively institute a policy of discrimination based on sexual orientation without congressional authorization would be slapped down in court.

However, non-policy discrimination is not forbidden in this law. So any particular officer could use sexual orientation as their own reason to block advancement or dole out abuse and it would be up to each administration to determine if such behavior was acceptable. While policies will likely we implemented by this administration – and are not likely to be officially revoked – ignoring policy is not without precedent, and without direction from Congress, any victim of discrimination has little recourse.

But even without assurances of non-discrimination, it is essential that the current language be removed. Because what my nation currently has to say about me is outrageously offensive.

After the jump is the language of the law
Read the rest of this entry »

DADT: Dare We Ask If It’s Really Dead?

It’s beginning to look like the stars are aligning. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may well be meeting its long-awaited end. In a deal worked out between the President and Congressional legislators, the Administration green-lighted a proposal to place the repeal of the ban on LGBT people serving openly in the military in this year’s Defense Authorization bill. This represents perfect symmetry, as it was under an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill of 1993 that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” became law.

Under the proposed amendment, DADT would be repealed this year, but the current policy would remain in place temporarily until two conditions are met: 1) the completion of the Pentagon’s review on how it will implement the repeal of DADT (which is due in December), and 2) certification from President Barack Obama, Defense secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs chair Adm. Mike Mullen that repealing DADT will not have a negative impact on military readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruiting, and that the military has the necessary regulations ready to go.

The amendment does not add a non-discrimination policy, but instead returns the authority for such regulations back to the Pentagon. The full text of the proposed amendment is available here (PDF: 28 KB/5 pages).

According to Stars and Stripes, Adm. Mike Mullen has already signed onto the deal.

The Defense Authorization Bill has already been passed out of committee in the House without DADT repeal language. It is expected to be voted on next week. The bill is still in the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the amendment is expected to be added. The language to repeal DADT would either have to be added to the House version of the bill before it is voted on next week, or the amendment would have to make it through the reconciliation process between the two Houses following its passage in the Senate.

Obama, Congressional leaders meet on DADT

This morning President Obama, Congressional leaders, Pentagon leaders, and gay rights groups had various meetings to discuss Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I wish that I could report that the President has whole-heartedly given his endorsement to the Congressional effort to overturn the discriminatory policy this week.

But unfortunately, it appears that Obama called in Congress to get concessions that will delay implementation of the change in policy and which will not actually overturn the ban but simply return the decision about implementation to the Pentagon. (Washington Post)

Any repeal would take effect only after President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen review the Pentagon study and certify that the new law can be implemented without a negative impact on military readiness, recruitment and retention, according to the sources.

This may be the best we can get. Should the President oppose the effort to lift the ban on open service in the Military, or even fail to signal acceptance of the change, this could trigger defeat. The vote count is very close.

It is important that the vote occur before any change in Congressional membership. It is very possible that one or both houses of Congress could be turned over to Republican control, and it is unlikely that Republican Party leadership would bring the bill to a vote regardless of the conclusions of the study.

And while I would prefer that Congress tell the Military that is will not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation whether it finds that restriction to be minorly inconvenient or not, that may not be an option.

UPDATE: The NY Times confirms the details:

Under the deal, lawmakers could vote soon to repeal the contentious 17-year-old policy, which bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the armed services; the House Democratic leaders are considering taking up the measure as soon as this week. But the policy would not change until sometime after Dec. 1, when the Pentagon completes a review of its readiness to deal with the new policy. President Obama would also be required to certify that repeal would not harm military readiness.
…
In a letter to Mr. Obama on Monday evening, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Lieberman and Senator Carl M. Levin, the Armed Services Committee chairman, asked the White House for its “official views” on the proposal.

But Capitol Hill aides said the letter was pro forma; Mr. Obama’s budget director, Peter R. Orszag, quickly replied with the White House’s assent.

It is encouraging to know that when backed into a corner without any way of saving face, the President is our fierce advocate. But hey, I’ll take it and be happy.

Stories From the Frontlines: “Answering the Simplest Questions Can Get You Kicked Out”

This is an important week in the efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The Washington Post reports that the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote sometime this week on an amendment to the annual defense spending authorization bill that would end the military’s ban on gay people serving openly. The Advocate reports that a deal may be in the works between the White House and Capital Hill on this very strategy. The Servicememeber’s Legal Defense Network sees this as a perfect method for ending DADT, since this very same mechanism was used to make DADT the law of the land in 1993. These developments may have something to do with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent statement before a Harvey Milk Day audience that “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, I feel quite certain, will be a memory come Christmas.”

The SLDN has been publishing a series of letters over the past several weeks leading up to this vote urging repeal of DADT. Today’s letter to President Barack Obama urging repeal of “DADT” comes from former Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenny Kopfstein, of the United States Navy. She was serving on the USS Shiloh overseas when the US Cole was attacked by a suicide bomber. She served as Officer of the Deck and put the Shiloh out to see as soon as the order came in. She also served on September 11, 2001, patrolling the west coast in the event of an attack. Through it all, she maintained the honor code that she learned while in the Navy Academy: “Midshipmen are persons of integrity: they do not lie, cheat, or steal.” But upholding those values by serving as an open lesbian was not without conflict:

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) made it difficult to have normal conversations with my shipmates. If I said I had a dog, someone might ask, “Who takes care of him when you’re at sea?” Answering the simplest questions can get you kicked out. The crew of my ship was my extended family. Keeping parts of my life secret and separate from them is an unnecessary burden, and no American sailor or soldier should be forced to bear it.

Feeling deeply conflicted between the requirements of DADT and the Navy’s Core Values, I wrote my Captain and told him I was a lesbian. I was being forced to lie on a daily basis by DADT. I did not want to get out of the Navy, and I said so in my letter. I wanted to stay and serve honorably, and to maintain my integrity by not lying about who I was.

After I wrote the letter, I continued to do my job on the ship to the best of my ability. We went on a six-month deployment to the Middle East. I qualified as Officer of the Deck, and was chosen to be the Officer of the Deck during General Quarters — a great honor.

I also earned my Surface Warfare Officer pin. During my pinning ceremony, the Captain removed his own pin — off the chest of his uniform — and pinned it on mine. That was one of my proudest moments.

Later, the Captain personally chose me to represent the ship in a ship-handling competition. I was the only officer chosen to compete, and my orientation was known to my shipmates. My discharge investigation was well underway. Not one person griped because I was the one chosen. I showed the Admiral my ship-driving skills, and won the competition.

My Captain wrote in my Fitness Report in 2002 that my “sexual orientation has not disrupted good order and discipline onboard USS SHILOH.”

Both of my Captains testified at my DADT discharge hearing to say they were opposed to the Navy kicking me out.

If not for DADT, I would still be serving today.

You can read her entire letter here. All of the letters from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s campaign are available here. The SLDN explains why they are publishing this series of letters from active and former servicemembers:

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

US Military Allies say that lifting ban on gay service has improved their militaries

The Brookings Institute is looking to see whether openly gay service is detrimental to the militaries of our Western allies. (CNN)

Representatives from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Israel and the Netherlands gathered Wednesday at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, to describe how the militaries in those countries handled allowing homosexuals to serve openly in their militaries. The consensus was that, in spite of concerns before the change, when gays and lesbians were allowed to serve, it was a non-issue.

Not only did none of the projected problems materialize, but open service has unexpected benefits.

Jones said British military officials saw an unexpected benefit of allowing gays to serve openly – better retention of qualified soldiers and sailors in key positions. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the British military had a 6 percent to 8 percent gap in unfilled positions. Now it’s down to the 2 percent to 3 percent range. Jones said one reason for that is the new policy allowing gays to serve. Now that gays are able to serve, military recruiters in the United Kingdom have more volunteers to choose from, Jones said. Also, having children is often cited by British troops as one reason why they leave the military in their late 20s or 30s. And Jones said because gays and lesbians are less likely to become parents, they tend to stay in the military longer.

Stories From the Frontlines: A Mother In the Closet

Today’s letter to President Barack Obama urging repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is from a mother of a gay servicemember who is will soon become a pilot. She has addressed her letter to both the President and the First Lady, Michelle Obama, mother to mother. The servicemember’s mother is unable to identify herself publicly without risk to her son’s career, which effectively forces her into the closet as well. She writes:

Mom’s have lots of dreams when they have babies.  All of you moms know what I am talking about.  What if your child had to live a lie; had to remain alone through their best and brightest years?  My dream for my son is that the United States of America would wake up and realize that times have changed, that people who happen to be gay or lesbian are really just like the rest of us, with the same aspirations, the same needs, and the same goals.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” throws more than just service people into the closet; it throws moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, godparents, friends and loved ones in there as well.

As a mom, my heart breaks for all the gay and lesbian “kids” in the military, and for all the special people in their lives who live with us in the closet.

I dream of actually being able to write to the President, my senators and representatives in the Congress, and actually signing my name, something I can’t do now due to the risk of outing my son.

I dream of the day when my son won’t have to live in fear, even as he works to keep the rest of us from living in fear.

And yes, as a mom, I dream of my son getting married to the man of his dreams.  I dream they will have all the rights that my husband and I do.  I dream that my son won’t have to wait through his entire military career to find love.  We all yearn for love.

Today, even in the closet, I dare to dream.

You can read her entire letter here. All of the letters from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s campaign are available here. The SLDN explains why they are publishing this series of letters from active and former servicemembers:

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

In the Eye of the Beholder

Watch this video, and tell me what you think:

When I saw this, I thought it was a great parody of Ke$sha’s song, “Blah, Blah, Blah,” turned as ridicule of those who fear the “homosexualization” of the armed forces once “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is finally repealed. Good production values, hot soldier boys, funny mugging before the cameras. What’s not to like?

But whether the video was actually intended to support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” well the accompanying comment on the YouTube page by Cody Wilson who produced the video is quite ambiguous:

Created by Codey Wilson and his elite step team of volunteers. The video is an EXAGGERATED act of a possible future military that is open to any sexual preference. Please don’t try to cause us any problems. We’re just a few good guys trying to enjoy ourselves and get this deployment over with. No one in the video is gay… that we know of, nor am I. Sorry guys. Not that there is anything wrong with that! (political correctness) I am NOT saying it IS ok to be gay in the military. I am not saying it’s NOT OK.

The original video has been removed (although other copies are floating around YouTube) because, in the end someone did decide to cause them some problems. Chris Geidner reports that these problems may have resulted from a complaint by former Capt. James Pietrangelo II, who was discharged under DADT in 2004. (Pietrangelo was arrested alongside Lt. Daniel Choi in March when they handcuffed themselves to the White House fence in protest over DADT.) According to Geidner:

In the letter [to Army Secretary John McHugh], Pietrangelo writes that the soldiers in the video are ”at a deployed base” and ”in various uniforms or pieces of uniforms and sometimes holding weapons and using military equipment and vehicles.” He states that the soldiers ”engage in disgraceful stereotypes of Gay service members” and ”obviously have violated the UCMJ, including Article 134, which prohibits conduct discrediting to the military.”

Writing to McHugh that the video is ”an indictment of the military and of the discriminatory policy known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ which you, Defense Secretary [Robert] Gates and President Obama gleefully enforce every day,” Pietrangelo adds that ”the homophobic actions of these soldiers would NOT be possible but for the chain of command’s allowance and encouragement of them under DADT’s enforced stereotype that Gays are harmful to unit cohesion.”

But not everyone in the LGBT community is offended by this video (including yours truly, for the record). Geidner reports that GLAAD has no plans to respond to the video. Andy Towle saw it as “support for gays in the military” Joe Mirabella enjoyed it as well:

Some in our leadership need to remember, our soldiers have been serving with openly gay men and women for years. Our allied forces have been allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly for the entire duration of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Thank you for the laugh guys. Good luck over there. I hope you make it home safely.

You know, sometimes straight guys just wanna have fun. And sometimes the rest of us needs to heed the advice of Sgt. Hulka from Stripes: “Lighen up, Francis.” The video ends with the caption “…Just be honest with yourself. You loved it!” Yes, I did. And I wish them godspeed on their deployment.

Stories From the Frontlines: “One Moment They Wanted To Throw Me Out and the Next They Are Hiding Evidence to Keep Me In”

Today’s letter to President Barack Obama urging repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” comes from a soldier who is due to return to Iraq in another two weeks. His letter is so compelling that we present it in its entirety:

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you from a kitchen in the state of Washington.  The love of my life is in the other room.  It has been eight months since I saw him last and I cherish every moment we spend together.  Next week, my mid-tour leave will be over and I will return to Iraq and finish my second deployment. I don’t know when I’ll see my partner again.

When serving in a war zone, you learn quite a bit about yourself and what’s important to you.  I’ve had the chance to work on a close and personal level with the people of Iraq, and in doing so, I have realized more than ever that the freedoms we enjoy as Americans should not be taken for granted – we must protect them at all costs.  These freedoms are essential to the very foundation of our society.  Yet so many men and women who fight for these freedoms aren’t allotted their own. Our freedom to love and be loved by whomever we choose. The freedom to live of a life of truth and dignity.

Recently I was informed that the military was investigating me for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Another service member had apparently “outed” me.  At first I felt free:  I didn’t have to lie anymore.  But after that initial sense of relief, I’m left knowing just how little the Pentagon and the United States government think of me.

Mr. President, my unit is extremely undermanned.  We’re working around the clock in Baghdad.  My commander informed me that the Army cannot afford to lose me.  I was told that they would prepare my discharge paperwork, “stick it in a Manila envelope, and keep it in a desk — for now.”

One moment they wanted to throw me out and the next they are hiding evidence to keep me in.

My comrades now know that I am gay, and they do not treat me any differently.  Work runs as smoothly as ever, and frankly the only difference I see — besides my pending job loss — is that I am free of the burden of having to constantly watch my words and ensure my lies are believable.

Having this out in the open makes things a bit less stressful.  But it’s also clear the Army is only keeping me around until they are done with me.  After I have served my two deployments — and only a year shy of separating from the military honorably — I suspect they will kick me to the street.

It’s bad enough that there is a law that denies tens of thousands of service members from serving with integrity, but it’s even worse when such a law is carried out with such inconsistency, without any warning of when it might come down.

If my suspicions are true, my discharge will move forward after my deployment.  I am good enough to serve in war, but not at peace? I will never be at peace until this law is repealed – and neither will my partner.  In fact, he won’t even be informed if I am killed in action.  That might be the hardest part for us both.

Mr. President, when you took office I remember watching your inauguration knowing that history was being made. I remember feeling like this weight was being lifted off of my shoulders.  I truly believed in you, and I still do.

But, Mr. President, please keep your promise to me.

Please do everything in your power to help Congress repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year.  Our government called upon us to fight for our country.  So many of us answered the call; we did not delay.  We were sent world’s away to defend your freedoms. Mr. President, won’t you fight for mine?

With deep respect,
A soldier returning to Baghdad

All of the letters from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s campaign are available here. The SLDN explains why they are publishing this series of letters from active and former servicemembers:

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Sen. Inhofe Says Military Won’t Fight For Gay Comrades

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) told American Family Association Radio yesterday revealed his abysmally low opinion of the men and women serving our our Armed Forces. In an interview with Bryan Fischer, Inhofe said that the men and women aren’t serving “for the flag or the country, [they’re] doing it for the guy in the next foxhole.” And he declared those men and women too bigoted to protect “the guy in the next foxhole” if they knew he was gay.

Inhofe and Fischer were discussing Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court, and they both agreed that her nomination should be “resisted with every weapon at our disposal,” citing her opposition to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:

Fischer: Well, and Sen. Inhofe, I commend you for coming out so quickly because I do believe that this is a nomination that needs to be resisted with every weapon at our disposal, and I appreciate you centering on her attitude toward military recruitment on college campuses… [edit]

Inhofe: For those of us — and I’m one of them — who have gone through the military, gone through basic training, and you stop and think — it just doesn’t make any sense. First of all, it’d be very expensive. Secondly, it’s just not working. You have women, men, then you have a third group to deal with, and they’re not equipped to do that.

And you know — you hear the stories all the time. A military guy — I happen to be Army, and Army and Marines always feel that when we’re out there, we’re not doing it for the flag or the country; we’re doing it for the guy in the next foxhole. And that would dramatically change that.

A December 2006 Zogby poll found that 73% were very comfortable in the presence of gays and lesbians, and only 27% believed that DADT’s repeal would have a negative impact on unit morale. Those serving in today’s armed forces work with much greater integrity and professionalism than Inhofe did, if indeed that was his attitude when he was in the military. Inhofe owes our men and women an apology.

CA Assembly Calls for DADT Repeal

The California Assembly approved a resolution calling for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in a 51-17 bipartisan vote. The resolution now heads to the state Senate for a concurrence vote., which will likely take place on Monday.

Among those speaking in favor of the resolution was Nathan Fletcher (R), a former Marine who represents the 75^thAssembly District in San Diego County. He urged the Assembly to pass the resulition, saying “I believe that any American who has these core values — honor, courage, and commitment, and who is willing to give their life for their country — should be allowed to serve openly and honorably.”