According to research funded by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), there are
a million gay veterans in the United States.
And there are 65,000 gay and lesbians serving in the armed forces today. That's the equivalent of nearly half the US troops in Iraq.
But the most remarkable statistic of all? The SLDN has secured commitments from 109 Representatives to cosponsor the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The Advocate has the full story of the SLDN's behind-the-scenes work to orchestrate the repeal - and surprisingly, it's not just Democrats on board.
More over the bump...
Since November 30, 1993, when Bill Clinton signed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" into law, well over
10,000 servicemembers have been discharged for homosexuality, or suspicion thereof, at
a cost of over $200 million - taxpayer money.
- 617 discharges under DADT
- 772 discharges under DADT
- 870 discharges under DADT
- 1007 discharges under DADT
- 1163 discharges under DADT
- 1046 discharges under DADT
- 1241 discharges under DADT
- 1273 discharges under DADT
- 906 discharges under DADT
- 787 discharges under DADT
- 653 discharges under DADT
Military recruitment is off pace. Standards have been lowered. Our military is stretched dangerously thin. But gays and lesbians are not allowed to serve openly - ostensibly, because we might steal a glance at some Army dick in the showers.
The SLDN is on a mission to change all that, and to date, they've been surprisingly successful in garnering support in the House. Similar legislation hasn't been introduced yet in the Senate. From the Advocate article:
Since March 2005 the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has organized 109 bipartisan members of Congress in support of a bill to repeal the military's ban--legislation sponsored by SLDN and introduced by Rep. Marty Meehan. Our original goal for the legislation's first year--in light of an unfriendly Congress--was to secure 40 cosponsors; some of the leading lobbyists in our community suggested even that might be a stretch. The response, we now know, has been more positive than we could have hoped for.
Appealing to two conservative hot button issues - military strength and national security - the SLDN has even gotten a few Republicans on board...
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, a Maryland Republican who is a Vietnam War veteran, said, "When this issue comes up, members who believe that gays shouldn't be in the military are now more hesitant to voice their opinion. Many of us who feel the other way have come out of the closet, so to speak." Republicans like Representatives Gilchrest, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Christopher Shays, and Jim Kolbe can feel comfortable supporting repeal because SLDN has worked hard to make this issue about lost talent and national security, two issues near and dear to conservative leaders.
The article doesn't list which Reps on board, and my research has turned up zilch. Anyone with a pipeline to the SLDN?
The article is worth the read. And we could use a little good news, yes?