Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) voted in favor of an amendment to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy for the U.S. military, as part of HR 5136, the FY 2011 Defense Authorization Bill. Rep. Engel has been a longtime supporter of repealing this rule which has led to discrimination against LGBT service members. The amendment passed by a vote of 234-194, and the entire bill is expected to pass the full House tomorrow. The repeal also passed the Senate Armed Service Committee by a 16-12 vote and now moves to a vote in the full Senate.
“The time is long overdue to let people serve our country regardless of their sexual orientation. Gay Americans must not be denied the right to serve the country they love, just because of who they are. They should be given the same rights as others because of who they are – Americans. Bravery and dedication are not solely possessed by heterosexuals,” said Rep. Engel.
Rep. Engel was one of 75 House members who in June 2009 asked President Obama to direct the Defense Department to immediately suspend DADT, and work for its repeal. The financial cost of administering “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” from 1994-2008 was $555.2 million, according to a study by the Williams Institute.
According to the Service members Legal Defense Network, more than 13,500 service members have been fired under DADT since 1994. This number includes many decorated officers, 54 service members with Arabic training and more than 750 in critical operations. There are 25 other countries who allow openly gay service members in their armed forces, including Australia, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. In a study by the Palm Center, those 25 countries said there was no overall decline in the effectiveness of the military due to the lifting of the ban on gay service members.
Rep. Engel added, “It is disgraceful that in the modern era, gay and lesbian citizens are unable to be open about who they are while serving in our military. While "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" may have opened some doors when it was first established in 1993, today it is an anachronism reminding us of the discrimination which members of the LGBT community continue to face each and every day. I think we should not only listen to the more than 100 retired generals and admirals who have called for the repeal, and to Defense Secretary Gates who also supports the repeal, but we should listen to the voice of reason. Why would we want our government to restrict the rights of its citizens?”
Key current and former high ranking military officials, including Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Generals Colin Powell and John Shalikashvili, both former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are supporting repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
