New York State senate resolution calls for repeal of "don't ask, don't tell"

A resolution introduced in the New York State senate calls for the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on openly LGBT service members. State senator Thomas Duane's resolution asks his state's congressional delegation to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal the ban and has been pending in the U.S. House since March 2005.

Already 17 of New York's Congress members have signed on in support of the bill, which has 115 cosponsors in total and was introduced by Democratic representative Marty Meehan of Massachusetts. Senator Duane's resolution is sponsored by the New York chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights, an association of LGBT veterans.

"The military's ban on openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members impacts every American in every community," C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said in a statement. "Our armed forces are better able to protect our homeland when the most qualified Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, are allowed to serve. From New York to California, Americans understand that the best way to strengthen our armed forces, and salute the service of more than 1 million lesbian, gay, and bisexual veterans now living in our country, is to repeal the military's ban. SLDN salutes Sen. Thomas Duane and AVER-NY for taking a strong stand against discrimination in our armed forces."

If the resolution passes, New York would join California and the cities of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, West Hollywood, Calif., and Cathedral City, Calif., in officially opposing "don't ask, don't tell." (The Advocate)

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