FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Wednesday, Dec 15th, 2010

CONTACT: Dan Farough
Office: (248) 273-4227

PETERS VOTES TO REPEAL DON'T ASK DON'T TELL

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gary Peters voted today to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) saying that the policy harmed military readiness by discriminating against patriotic Americans who are willing to serve their country simply on the grounds of their sexual orientation.   

“Patriotic Americans who are willing to fight and die for their country should not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation,” said Congressman Gary Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.  “This backward policy has turned away fighter pilots, mechanics, medics and even Arabic translators at a time when this country is fighting two wars.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently testified before Congress in support of repeal.  Secretary Gates has said a repeal of DADT “can be done, and should be done, without posing a serious risk to military readiness.”   A recent Pentagon Study on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” emphasizes the urgent need for legislative action and warns of ongoing legal challenges to the policy that could force the military to integrate services without time to do it in an orderly fashion.

“During my service in the Navy Reserve, I served with many brave, patriotic, and dedicated men and women who were always ready to serve their country, anytime, anywhere,” Peters said.  “I was never concerned about their sexual orientation, just their ability to serve the United States honorably.  It is time to end this discriminatory policy and let our military recruit and retain any qualified, patriotic, and courageous American who wants to serve our country.”

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