Democratic
representative Martin Meehan of Massachusetts on Wednesday
revived legislation aimed at forcing the military to
eliminate the policy preventing gay service members
from being open about their orientation.
Foes of the
military's ''don't ask, don't tell'' policy regarding gay
service members hope for better results in their
efforts to repeal it in the new Democratic-run
Congress.
Democratic
representative Martin Meehan of Massachusetts on Wednesday
revived legislation aimed at forcing the military to
eliminate the policy preventing gay service members
from being open about their orientation. Meehan said
he expects the House Armed Services panel to hold hearings
on the issue.
''I have worked
in Congress to fight this policy because I believe that
for more than a decade now it has undermined our national
security interests,'' Meehan said.
He filed a
similar measure that failed in the previous Congress, which
was controlled by Republicans. That bill had more than 120
cosponsors, including six Republicans. The new measure
has 109 cosponsors.
Democratic
presidential candidate John Edwards released a statement in
support of Meehan's effort and called it ''an issue of
fundamental fairness.''
Republican
representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut, who
appeared with Meehan at a Capitol Hill news conference,
branded the military's policy on gays and lesbians
''foolish and cruel.''
Also attending
was retired marine staff sergeant Eric Alva, who lost his
leg after stepping on a land mine early in the Iraq war. He
was awarded a Purple Heart. ''Who would have ever
guessed that the first American wounded was a gay
marine,'' Alva said.
Supporters of
lifting the restriction on openly gay service members
contend that the military—under the strain of
fighting two wars—cannot afford to exclude any
qualified volunteers.
The current
policy, based on legislation passed by Congress in 1993
after fierce debate, states that gays and lesbians may
serve in the military only if they keep their sexual
orientation private. Commanders may not ask, and gay
service members may not tell. Over the years thousands have
been dismissed under this policy.
The prospects for
Meehan's bill are unclear. While many Democrats have
criticized the policy as discriminatory, many Republicans
have supported it. Congress may be reluctant to
revisit such a divisive issue amid contentious debate
over the Iraq war. (Andrew Miga, AP)
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