Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I urge you to co-sponsor the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute banning military service by lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans. If you are already a co-sponsor, I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for your support.
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act was reintroduced on February 28, 2007 with the support of 110 bi-partisan original co-sponsors. I urge you to support this measure by becoming a co-sponsor now.
Only one law in the United States mandates firing someone because of his or her sexual orientation. That law is 10 U.S.C. 654, also known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and it applies to all Americans serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, including active duty, Reserve, and National Guard personnel. Over two million Americans serving in uniform today are bound by this discriminatory law. Among them, an estimated 65,000 lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans in uniform live with the constant threat of a career-ending discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This is no way to treat patriotic Americans who volunteer to serve our nation in its time of need.
Over 11,000 Americans have been discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the last twelve years - an average of two people per day. Our government has spent over 190 million in tax payer dollars firing desperately needed military linguists, pilots, doctors, intelligence analysts, nurses and others with critical skills we need in this time of conflict. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is wasteful, discriminatory and harms our military.
I urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor following the introduction of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, HR 1246.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
