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August 16, 2006

Democratic congressional candidate waffles on military's gay ban

Democratic congressional candidate waffles on military's gay ban

Tammy Duckworth, an active-duty major in the Army National Guard who is the Democratic candidate for Illinois's sixth congressional district, is at odds with two national gay rights groups over whether she supports repealing the military's antigay "don't ask, don't tell" policy, according to a report in the suburban Chicago Daily Herald. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network put out a news release last week praising Duckworth, who lost both legs in the Iraq conflict, for supporting legislation that would repeal the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

But a campaign spokeswoman told the Herald that Duckworth doesn't support the legislation. "I think she only supports a repeal [of the ban] if it was deemed appropriate by military commanders of the armed forces," Christine Glunz said. "The press release is incorrect."

SLDN's Steve Ralls, however, said the group based its news release on a statement Duckworth gave to the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign. "When I was serving in Iraq, it made no difference to me what the sexual orientation of my comrades was. It certainly did not matter to me what the sexual orientation was of the men or women who helped save my life after my Black Hawk helicopter was shot down over Iraq," Duckworth said in the statement, which her campaign acknowledges is correct. "Any qualified American who is willing to make that kind of sacrifice for our freedom should be free to do so."

Based on those words—and Duckworth's being listed as backing a change to allow gays to serve openly in the military on the Human Rights Campaign's Web site—"it seemed pretty clear to everyone involved on our side that her statement seemed to be one of support for lesbian and gay service members," Ralls told the Herald.

Not so, according to the Duckworth camp. "Tammy has not expressed strong support for repealing 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Glunz said.

Duckworth is running as a moderate in the traditionally Republican sixth district, where some voters might not support such a repeal. Her opponent, Republican state senator Peter Roskam, left no doubt about where he stands. "My view is, keep the current policy," Roskam told the Herald. "In knocking on 5,000 doors, it hasn't come up." (The Advocate)

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