Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) once again voted in favor of ending the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  The elimination of a policy which, according the vast majority of service members, would not harm military readiness and which limits the rights of LGBT service members, is supported by almost 80 percent of Americans.  The measure passed the full House by a vote of 250-175.

“It feels like a broken record, the House has passed the repeal.  The courts have ruled the policy is unconstitutional.  The military has stated the repeal will not harm the day-to-day operations of our armed forces.  The American people overwhelmingly support its repeal.  The only people who seem to have trouble understanding this are a minority of U.S. Senators, and almost the entire Republican caucus.

“Senate Republicans seem to care about only one thing – tax cuts for the wealthy.  They are for discrimination against brave LGBT service members, they are against providing health care for 9-11 heroes, they are against helping the unemployed, they are for insurance companies denying coverage for the sick, and they are on the side of BP and other petroleum conglomerates that pollute our environment.  It is time they show that they will not stand in the way of good policy, just because it isn’t perfect politics for them,” said Rep. Engel, a longtime supporter of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. 

“There is no good reason to keep this policy,” he added, “The vast majority of current service men and women believe the impact of repeal would either be positive, mixed or no effect at all.  It said that almost 70 percent of service members believe they have already served with a gay man or woman, and 92 percent of them felt the unit did not have any negative effects.  The time has come to end this discriminatory policy.”

In May, Rep. Engel voted for legislation to repeal the policy. He was one of 75 House members in June 2009 who asked President Obama to direct the Department of Defense to immediately suspend DADT, and work for its repeal.  The current bill will now return to the Senate before it adjourns for the year, and then hopefully will go to President Obama after passage.

“Gay Americans must not be denied the right to serve the country they love,’ he said. “They should have the same rights as others because of who they are – Americans.  Bravery and dedication are not solely possessed by heterosexuals.  As the 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator Barry Goldwater, said, ‘You can be gay and still shoot straight.’”

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