A decision to repeal the military's unconstitutional and discriminatory "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy could be decided as early as Monday. And Maine Senators Snowe or Collins are in a position to cast the deciding vote. Our service men and women deserve to live openly, and to be treated with dignity and respect as they risk their lives for American missions and values. Yet under DADT, gay service member must keep their sexual orientation secret or face discharge. Under DADT they are forced to choose between staying in the military, in hiding and living in fear of being discovered or withdrawing from military service. Neither option is acceptable, and both result in huge costs - to that serviceperson, to their unit, and to our country as a whole. It's a policy that has a very high price with little to no return. It is a policy long overdue for repeal.
Snowe and Collins had said they were reserving judgment on DADT repeal until the release of the Pentagon study examining the impact DADT repeal. Well, the Pentagon report is out. It is strong and its message is clear - letting gay and lesbian troops serve openly won't hurt our military.
According to the extensive report, at least 70% of U.S. Military personnel would have no problem serving with an openly gay person in their unit. It further found concerns about repeal of the 17 year old policy to be "exaggerated". In fact, they found minimal risk to military readiness, with any negative effects expected to be shortlived and contained. And as with most issues surrounding unfounded prejudice and discrimination, concerns decrease as people have contact with those they fear. In fact,"92 percent of respondents who reported serving with someone they believed was gay felt that unit effectiveness was unaffected or improved by having a gay person in the unit." Let's repeat that - over 90% believed having gay people in their unit had either no impact or a positive one.
SO SENATORS - Pretty convincing huh? Demand that our Senators to do what's right for gay service people and our nation's military.
Let them know you support repeal - MAKE THE CALL!
Snowe - 202-224-5344
Collins - 202-224-5344
Capital Operator - 202-224-3121.
As described by one Mainer pushed out of 10 years of service for being gay - it's a "very high price to pay for prejudice."