Bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" gains more congressional support  | News | Advocate.com

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04/29/06-05/01/06
Bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" gains more congressional support
Bill to repeal

A congressional bill to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy now has its 115th cosponsor. Democratic representative Susan Davis of California, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, in which the measure is pending, has signed on in full support, saying that the ban on LGBT service members is an unnecessary "political invention."

"Over the course of the last year, I questioned high-ranking members of the armed forces, active-duty military personnel, veterans, military families, members of the LGBT community, my congressional colleagues, and other interested groups," Davis, whose district includes parts of military-heavy San Diego, said in a statement. "These exchanges helped me to understand and ultimately dismiss the argument that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military would negatively impact military readiness, as some have stated. After consulting this diverse sounding board, it is clear to me that the ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy is a political invention that does not serve the real needs of our armed forces and should be repealed.”

The executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which advocates repealing the ban, lauded Davis's support. "Her sponsorship of this legislation sends a clear message that repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is in the best interest of our armed forces," C. Dixon Osburn, the group's head, said in a statement.

The bill, known as the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, was introduced last year by Democratic representative Marty Meehan of Massachusetts. It has yet to be brought for a full House vote. (The Advocate)

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