2008
Conference Call on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Congressional Hearing
Conference call to include Rep. Ellen Tauscher and hearing witnesses, address the need to repeal discriminatory policy
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, July 22, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the Human Rights Campaign, Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans will hold a media conference call with Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and witnesses participating in the Congressional hearing taking place next week on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) a law that prohibits honorable gay and lesbian Americans from serving their country openly and honestly. This will be the first hearing to discuss repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” since Congress enacted it fifteen years ago.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, at 2 p.m., before the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. The Subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA). The media conference call will include three witnesses calling for the repeal, including U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.), U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.), and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva.
Current legislation before Congress, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA), HR 1246, would remedy this discriminatory and unworkable policy by replacing DADT with a policy of non-discrimination. The legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress last year by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA). Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) became the lead sponsor of MREA when Rep. Meehan retired.
WHAT: Media conference call to discuss the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Congressional Hearing
WHO: Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA); U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.); U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.); former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. EDT
CONFERENCE CALL NUMBER: 866-641-2835 CONFIRMATION ID: 57008053
This is long overdue…and I look forward to hearing the outcome. Our soldiers serve everyday beside gay and lesbian members of other military forces with no problems that I am aware of…it sucks to think that we cannot do that for ourselves.
I’m sure that they are terribly afraid that then we’ll have to do what Canada does…you know, then offer military partners/spouses benefits and such. It would be a great statement of progression however, as a country.
A favorite quote of mine on this topic is “they gave me a purple heart for killing two men, and a discharge for loving one.”
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.
Juls last blog post..Brooke Hogan is a moron.