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Murphy Moves on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania officially became the lead sponsor on the "don't ask, don't tell" repeal bill on Tuesday night, but he's been stepping up efforts to get the bill moving for months.


Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania officially became the lead sponsor on the "don't ask, don't tell" repeal bill, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, on Tuesday night, but he's been stepping up efforts to get the bill moving for months.

Murphy has launched a new website, LetThemServe.com , where citizens and soldiers can weigh in on the policy and get updates on the bill. He is also joining forces with the Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers United on a national tour to discuss the negative effects of the policy with average citizens across the country.

He took time out Tuesday to speak with The Advocate about the road to repeal.

Advocate.com:I know there was some competition for this bill from other members like Susan Davis and Joe Sestak. How did you get the bill?
Rep. Patrick Murphy: I was the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress and I saw firsthand how this policy has hurt our military and has hurt our national security and I have the honor of serving on not just the Armed Services Committee but also the [Military] Personnel Subcommittee, which is where, for the first time in 15 years, we held a hearing on the policy last year. I was honored that I'll be able to quarterback this bill and I'm going to see that we get it done and put a bill on the president's desk to repeal it.

But in terms of securing the bill, did you have conversations with former representative Ellen Tauscher [the previous lead sponsor, who vacated her seat to accept a position in the State Department] early on and indicate that you would be interested?
I did, and I had a great working relationship with Secretary Tauscher. We worked at that hearing last year and it's something she saw that I care deeply about, and that's when the cameras were on. But behind the scenes, talking to my colleagues in the Congress, on both sides of the aisle as well. And so I think I earned her support and I'm proud to take the lead on this.

What's the next step, the first thing you'll do to get this thing moving?
I've been going member to member, especially since I've taken the lead -- we've gotten six new cosponsors on board, two members of leadership last week [representatives John Larson and Xavier Becerra], and we're doing the national kickoff at the National Press Club Tuesday. But I'm also doing a website petition to petition my fellow members of Congress, and we're going to be doing smaller press conferences in congressional districts to let people know why it's important now to change it.

The fact that we've let go over 13,000 troops since it's been implemented and over 65 Arabic translators -- that's over three combat brigades that we've let go. When we're fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, we need every qualified, able-bodied individual to serve.

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FILE UNDER:  DADTDon't Ask Don't Tell

Reader Comments
  • Name: Allen
    Date posted: 7/10/2009 4:39:00 PM
    Hometown: Florence, SC

    Comment:

    For the moment I agree with Bryan and Micheal. the democrats are the party that always initiate bills that benefit our party. True the argument could be made that Clinton et al didn't precisely serve our community with DADT in the first place; however, when was the last time you got anything from the Republicans? In the final analysis, we are not a significant voting block, we contribute financially but not to the level that we are indispensable. Democrats who vote with us do so because they are swayed by the simple justice of our cause. As our detractors have said, we are a small minority, but we are very loud. Taking all of this into consideration, lets be sure to give credit to our democratic allies where credit is due when they do the right thing because they do so for all the right reasons.

  • Name: Bryan
    Date posted: 7/9/2009 7:15:00 PM
    Hometown: Summerville

    Comment:

    No, I don't think I'm being premature. My point is that it's always a Dem to introduce this kind of legislation. We got a bill introduced, that's the first step. Whether it passes or not is not germain to my point, that a Dem, once again, initiated the legislation. That was it. Of course, it may not pass. Maybe even Dems will help defeat it. But a Dem took the initiative. When Clinton first came in to office, he tried, in vain, to eliminate the ban on gays in the military. He wanted to do, right away, what he promised. The blowback set us back years! That's why we have DADT now. We don't need more reactionary politics. We need a strong leader, that will take our guff and inpatience, and deliver us, in the long-term, a better policy that can't be reversed by the next Johnny-come-Lately.

  • Name: Michael R
    Date posted: 7/9/2009 9:01:00 AM
    Hometown: Fort Lauderdale

    Comment:

    Thank you Rep Murphy. As always, it's a Democrat who will stand up for our community. We're in the middle of an on-going war to win our rights. We'll win some battles, we'll lose some. When our Gay-war is over, we will have equal rights. We will win. Without the Dems we will lose. Good God, think Big Picture, please!

  • Name: Mawm
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 8:04:00 PM
    Hometown: Chapel Hill

    Comment:

    Bryan, Don't you think you are being a little premature? He's going to introduce a bill. Let's see where it goes. I'm not satisified until the bill is signed into law. Plus, there has been no leadership from Obama on the issue. Just last week, Gates was talking about how they would look at ways of selectively enforcing DADT in a more "humane way". That doesn't sound like an administration "fiercely advocating" for our community and ready to end the unjust discharges.

  • Name: Bryan
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 7:08:00 PM
    Hometown: Summerville

    Comment:

    I beg to differ with you, Gary. I was pointing out that this action was not an anomoly, as you assert, because when something like this happens, it's always initiatated by a Dem., an anomoly would be if a RePub delivered this legislation. p.s., If my comment added nothing to the discussion, I doubt you would have been compelled to respond. p.s.s., you're very RUDE! So stuff it, Gary!

  • Name: Joe Reid
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 6:55:00 PM
    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    Comment:

    FINALLY!!! Leadership in Washington on DADT!!! And I do NOT want to see Pelosi or Reid or Obama sticking their nose in to celebrate when it passes. All THREE of then fell down on this issue. REMEMBER - Obama is OUT in 2012!

  • Name: garychapelhill
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 5:30:00 PM
    Hometown: chapel hill, nc

    Comment:

    bryan, your comment adds nothing to the discussion. of course the republicans aren't going to do anything for us. We already knew that, that's why we never voted or donated to them as a group in the first place. With very few exceptions the Democrats have been treating us the same way lately. Murphy's courage is an anomaly in a party that claims to be on our side. Unfortunately the current leader of the party, President Obama, is a bigot and a coward. We need more members of the party like Murphy to take the lead if Obama refuses, or is afraid to fulfill his promises to us. Regardless, your pathetic "I told you so" is more than just a little premature. I wish people like you would stop whining about those of us who are fighting for our rights. We have a lot on our plates right now and don't have time for you right now.

  • Name: Bryan
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 5:16:00 PM
    Hometown: Summerville

    Comment:

    As usual, the first sponsor is a Democrat. People can't wait to dog the D party and say we're being used and abused as gays, used just for our money while they do nothing for us. Remember this next time you vote, we may not have everything we want when we want it, but it's always Democrats that move us forward. Just watch and see how this stacks up on strict party lines.

  • Name: Michael-Bruce
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 3:53:00 PM
    Hometown: Williams Township, PA

    Comment:

    Find out who your U.S. Representative (Congressman) is and call him or her to find out if they are a co-sponsor (supporter) of the DADT Repeal Bill (HR 1283). If not, tell them you're a constituent who strongly encourages their support of this bill for the security of the country and the respect of all Americans committed to non-discrimination. My U.S. Representative, Congressman Charles Dent, is currently NOT a co-sponsor of this bill, which dismays me. I'm going to find out why he's not and urge him to get on board. 24 other countries allow their lgbt citizens to openly serve in their military. Unit cohesion will be most effective when our servicemembers can be honest about who they are.

  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 7/8/2009 3:30:00 PM
    Hometown: SF>CA>USA

    Comment:

    Thank you, Representative Murphy. I respect that you're in your "lane" and are focused on getting your job done - and it looks like you're well on your way to doing so. Just understand, though, that we LGBT have more than one lane that we're in. We can see your lane and are behind you, but we're also stuck behind Obama - who's tootling down the road doing 25 in a 55 MPH zone. Obama is being a COWARD. He wants to be able to point the finger of "blame" at Congress and doesn't want to get his hands dirty. The problem with that is that he then has BLOOD on his hands - the blood of American military members dying because they didn't have the support of all the people who've been kicked out via DADT.



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