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House Members Demand DADT Numbers


DONT ASK DONT TELL DADT SOLDIER CONGRESS X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Ninety-six members of Congress requested all information on this year's "don't ask, don't tell" discharges to prepare for the upcoming debate on the ban on gays in the military.

Rep. Jim Moran penned the letter to Defense secretary Robert Gates, according to a press release by the Virginia Democrat.

“This policy is putting our national security at risk and wastes tens of millions of taxpayer dollars every year in unrecoverable recruiting and training expenditures,” Moran wrote in a letter dated December 18 and released to reporters Tuesday. “Until we repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ it will continue to impose needless costs, reduce the number of specialists trained to combat urgent national security threats, demoralize the estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian active-duty service members, and deter many more good men and women from service.”

Only one Republican, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, signed the letter. In the past, Ros-Lehtinen came out against the gay marriage ban in her home state of Florida, and she is currently a cosponsor of Rep. Tammy Baldwin's bill to expand domestic-partner benefits to partners of federal workers. Baldwin and representatives Jared Polis and Barney Frank, the three openly gay members of the House, each also signed the letter. Rep. Patrick Murphy, the sponsor of the bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," has attached his name as well.

Moran gave the Pentagon a January 15 deadline for sending the information.

The full letter and signatories are on the next page ...

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 12:49:40 PM
    Hometown: Wappingers Falls

    Comment:

    I can't believe this has gone on a full year in Obama's presidency with a fillibuster proof Senate, simply because the MINORITY Republican party hates gay people. When will we say ENOUGH and storm the White House and Congress and DEMAND our equal civil rights?

  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 12:23:56 PM
    Hometown: Marble Hill

    Comment:

    Bring on the debate!! It will be interesting to see if those Democrats who say they 'support' us; really have the courage of their alleged convictions, and are ready to put their votes where their mouths are. This will be a good barometer to measure who we should - or should NOT - vote for in 2010!

  • Name: Clayton
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 1:25:51 AM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    Google the 'Crettenden Report'. Even in the 50's when homosexuality was literally the 'love that dare not speak it's name'--I mean when nobody even dared mention it much less discuss it--even then people understood that there was no rational basis for such discrimination. I have a feeling the debate is gong to be UGLY.

  • Name: Allen
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 1:11:00 AM
    Hometown: san antonio

    Comment:

    The army would rather take a convicted drug felon than a gay/lesbian. They would prefer a person who was not even able to graduate from high school than a gay/lesbian with a college education. DADT has to go. It never was an intelligent move but rather an attempt to satisfy the so called "religious" right wing nuts. It has not worked and will not work. After spending time in the army, I can say that sex does go on wedding ring or not. They have no moral ground to stand on.

  • Name: M
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 12:53:47 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Yes Mike wont it be better when anti gay republicans get elected to replace the pro-gay democrats who are working to finally end Don't Ask, Don't Tell?? If they put an end to discrimination in the military then they'll definite have my support

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 12/23/2009 12:21:11 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    I say if a single service member was thrown out for being gay then that is one too many. Yes it is wasting lots of money, but do they ever stop and think about all the lives thAt are turned upside down because of this stupid policy? I think our leaders should feel ashamed for allowing a policy like this to continue for so long, and what is to debate? Is there even a Valaid argument for kicking them out? I can tell you from personal experience that a lot of sex goes on in the service and it's not just gay people. I would speculate that at least a third of men pursue sexual relationships, many of whom are "straight" and married family men. Why don't they just kick out rapists instead, there are plenty of them in. The va statistics report that 30% of women are raped in the service.

  • Name: mike
    Date posted: 12/22/2009 8:46:07 PM
    Hometown: swagner

    Comment:

    mid term elections are coming up. What a bunch of crap! This crumb will not get my vote.



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