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Arlington Democrats Approve Resolutions Calling on Congress to Support Full Legislative Repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" in 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason Rylander (202) 486-8650

Arlington, VA – By a unanimous vote, the Arlington County Democratic Committee (“ACDC”) approved a resolution calling upon Congress to repeal the military’s controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gay and lesbian servicemembers. ACDC also passed a resolution to condemn Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit challenging the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act as it relates to global warming.

The votes followed a panel discussion featuring Congressman Jim Moran and Alex Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United. Earlier in the day a House Armed Services Subcommittee held a hearing on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

ACDC Chair Mike Lieberman issued a statement on repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:

"More than 13,500 servicemembers have been discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In that group were translators and other specialists key to our military success. In American in 2010, it is simply unfathomable that we would have in place a policy that forces our citizens to hide who they really are. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is wrong for our military readiness, and wrong for our sense of freedom for all. I am very proud that the Arlington County Democratic Committee unanimously urged the repeal of this wrong-headed policy, and I urge our legislators to do the same."

The resolution on Don't Ask Don't Tell "strongly urges Congressman Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to include language in the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Bill to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in 2010; and ... calls upon Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, Congressman Jim Moran, and other members of the Virginia Congressional delegation to support full legislative repeal of the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' law in 2010."

The complete text of the resolution follows:

Resolution on Repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Law in 2010

Whereas, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, codified at 10 U.S.C. § 654, requires the Department of Defense to involuntarily discharge anyone found to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual, including those outed against their will;

Whereas, nearly 14,000 men and women have been involuntarily discharged from the Armed Forces since 1993 under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, and tens of thousands more have voluntarily left the military because of the unnecessary burden and fear imposed by this law;

Whereas, more than 64 Arabic linguists, more than 300 other critical language speakers, and more than 800 critical intelligence specialists have been involuntarily discharged from the military because of this law;

Whereas, it is estimated that there are 66,000 gay, lesbian, and bisexual men and women currently serving on active duty in the U.S. military and in the reserves;

Whereas, three current and former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have publicly expressed their support for repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, including General John Shalikashvili, General Colin Powell, and Admiral Michael Mullen;

Whereas, Admiral Michael Mullen, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has stated: “[I]t is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do,” and “[n]o matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as institutions;”

Whereas, Robert Gates, the current Secretary of Defense, has stated, with regard to President Barack Obama’s call to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law, “I fully support the President’s decision. The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the Commander in Chief and we are moving out accordingly. However, we also can take this process only so far as the ultimate decision rests with you, the Congress;” and

Whereas, a study on the mechanics of a repeal is ongoing and there may need to be a delay between legislative repeal and full implementation;

Therefore, be it Resolved, that on March 3, 2010, the Arlington County Democratic Party:

(1) commends President Obama for seeking the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law;

(2) understands that repeal legislation may include a delayed implementation provision and calls for the necessary “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal legislation to be enacted in 2010;

(3) strongly urges Congressman Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to include language in the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Bill to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in 2010;

and (4) calls upon Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, Congressman Jim Moran, and other members of the Virginia Congressional delegation to support full legislative repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in 2010.

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