Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask’ urged

[unhappycamper]

Amy Martin, a 23-year-old intern with the Human Rights Campaign, attends to the flags posted on the National Mall to signify the service members that have been discharged from the armed forces since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law was signed 14 years ago today. The event coincided with the announcement that 28 retired U.S. military flag officers and leaders have signed onto a letter calling for the repeal of the policy.


Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask’ urged
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 30, 2007 20:09:11 EST

A coalition of gay rights groups has launched a renewed assault on the U.S. military’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, marking its 14th anniversary by planting 12,000 U.S. flags on the National Mall to recognize troops discharged over the policy and releasing a letter signed by 28 retired general and flag officers calling on Congress to repeal it.

“We respectfully urge Congress to repeal the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” the letter stated. “Those of us signing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish. As Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs said when the ... policy was enacted, it is not the place of the military or those in senior leadership to make moral judgments.”

Two of the generals — retired Army Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich, of Dublin, Ohio, and retired Maj. Gen. Alexander Burgin, of Salem, Ore. — attended a Friday morning news event that followed the planting of the flags, and Laich addressed reporters. Also speaking was Rhonda Davis, a former Navy mass communications specialist first class who was discharged in 2006 after attending a gay-marriage march in New York City and then admitting in two news interviews that she is gay.

Afterwards, the Human Rights Campaign’s Amy Martin, bundled up on a chilly day, walked through a sun-splashed field across from the Washington Monument, re-planting flags the wind had blown over. She said one of her female friends, an Arabic translator, was kicked out of the Army because of the policy.

“It’s sad that these highly trained people getting kicked out,” Martin said. “That’s so dumb.”

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is the popular term for the policy, enacted in November 1993 and implemented by the Defense Department in February 1994, that prohibits commanders from asking service members about their sexuality — unless a command receives “credible information” about possible homosexuality — but mandates separation from service for those who state publicly that they are homosexual and affirm that they have engaged in homosexual behavior.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/military_dontask_071130w/

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Let's not forget the transgender folk

My coworker began treatments last year to become a male. Everything is taking; he's on his way, although through slightly more than a casual observation one can see that he was once a she. Like the other transgender folk I have known, takes this in stride, and even has a healthy sense of humor about it.

Which came in handy last week when an Army recruiter approached on campus to discuss his signing up!

Once he stopped laughing, called his doctors and thanked them for doing a great job.