What if you had to lie everyday in order to keep your job or even worse, prevent imprisonment? "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the current U.S. policy prohibiting gays from serving openly in the military, is the only law in the country that forces people to do just this.
Sexual orientation has no bearing on a person's ability to serve in the military. What the U.S. military and America need are the best and the brightest soldiers and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is currently limiting our nation's skilled service members. In fact, denying enlistment to patriotic Americans and terminating serving members based on sexual orientation threatens military readiness and national security while simultaneously putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk!
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a failed and antiquated policy. Send a message to your member of Congress letting them know that you believe in equality and encourage them to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283). Urge Congress to enact a policy of non-discrimination and improve national security by allowing all talented and capable Americans to serve their country.
As your constituent, I am writing today to strongly urge you to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283). "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the current U.S. policy that prohibits openly gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the military, is threatening the strength of our national security and needs to be repealed and replaced.
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and in turn strengthen all branches of the military by allowing all qualified Americans to serve their nation.
A strong and powerful military is undoubtedly important, but supporting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" actually undermines the security of our nation -- denying our military the personnel it needs to fill critical shortages within its ranks. The policy has not only discharged critical members of the military such as doctors, mechanics and linguists, but according to GAO reports it has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $200 million to replace service members discharged based on their sexual orientation.
Sexual orientation has no bearing on a person's ability to serve in the military and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would help improve the quality of national security while simultaneously saving our nation hundreds of millions of dollars.
The American public recognizes that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a failed policy. In fact, support by the public for open service by lesbian and gay troops has grown since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was introduced over a decade ago. Today, 75% of Americans believe openly lesbian and gay citizens should be able to serve in the U.S. military -- now we need your support to make this happen!
I strongly urge you to repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and instead support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283).
Thank you for taking the time to consider my comments. I eagerly await your response.
