News

End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - Pass H.R. 6520

December 15, 2010

(Washington, DC) – Immediately following the failure of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 to achieve cloture, pro-repeal advocates including many allies have sought to move stand-alone legislation that ends the failed and unconstitutional 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, S. 4023 in the Senate and H.R. 6520 in the House.

"The House of Representatives has already passed the language included in H.R. 6520 once this year with bipartisan support, and the case for ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' has only gotten stronger," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "Since the vote in May, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was declared unconstitutional in federal court, the Pentagon's Comprehensive Working Group reported conclusively our military is ready and able to implement open service, and both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have repeatedly asked Congress to act. The evidence is there for Congress to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' returning to their homes. Log Cabin Republicans call upon our allies in Congress to prove their commitment to the strength of the United States armed services by voting to end this unnecessary, unconstitutional and un-American policy once and for all."

Log Cabin Republicans have maintained a three-front strategy against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' lobbying for repeal in Congress, consulting with the Department of Defense, and filing suit in federal court. The case went to trial in July of 2010, and Judge Virginia Phillips ruled on September 9, 2010 that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.