News

Log Cabin Republicans Calls for Full Repeal of Failed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Law

February 1, 2010

(Washington, DC) – In advance of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing tomorrow on the legislative efforts to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy with expected testimony from U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Log Cabin Republicans issued the following statement:

"As this country remains committed to a strong national defense, now is the time for the President and Congress to act swiftly and decisively to repeal the failed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy," stated Log Cabin Republicans National Chairman Terry Hamilton. "This policy has reduced the strength of our military forces, by disqualifying and dismissing soldiers with valuable skill sets that are critically needed. It is time for the United States military to join the ranks of our allies such as Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Israel, Australia and Canada and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military," continued Hamilton.

A survey conducted by Gallup showed that 58% of self-identified conservatives and Republicans support repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. According to numerous sources, since the policy was enacted over 13,000 servicemembers have been discharged, including at least 500 under the Obama Administration.

"Log Cabin Republicans remains committed to working with allies in the House and Senate to ensure repeal of this policy legislatively," said Hamilton. "As this process works through Congress, President Obama must use his full executive authority to suspend prosecutions and instruct Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department to suspend its defense of the policy in the Courts. The President cannot have it both ways; he must be in favor of using every avenue to overturn this policy, not just the one that gives him the most credit," concluded Hamilton.

Currently, Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America, is the only direct challenge to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, filed in the wake the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas. It is also the only contemporary legal challenge to this policy to succeed at the district court level. One of the injured parties named in the case, Alexander Nicholson, is a former US Army Human Intelligence Collector who speaks multiple languages, including Arabic, and who was fired because of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law just six months after 9/11. Another injured party in the case, listed simply as 'John Doe,' currently serves in the Armed Forces and would face a discharge if his identity were revealed.