News Item: : Equality in the Military
(Category: Club News)
Posted by Bill Berkey
Wednesday 03 February 2010 - 11:16:15
EDITORIAL - New York Times
History was made on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. More than 16 years after their predecessors helped impose the odious “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the nation’s two top defense officials called on Congress to repeal the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The principled courage of the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a major step forward for civil rights.
This news item is from Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club
( http://www.lakecountystonewalldemocrats.org/news.php?extend.529 )
(Category: Club News)
Posted by Bill Berkey
Wednesday 03 February 2010 - 11:16:15
EDITORIAL - New York Times
History was made on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. More than 16 years after their predecessors helped impose the odious “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the nation’s two top defense officials called on Congress to repeal the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The principled courage of the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a major step forward for civil rights.
Their action leaves no further excuse for Republican lawmakers to go on supporting this discrimination. President Obama must not let the opponents of repeal, who are already mobilizing, keep this terribly unjust law on the books.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” was passed by Congress in 1993, with the support of Les Aspin, who then was the secretary of defense, and Gen. Colin Powell, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It compelled gay men and lesbians to hide who they are and to live in fear of being reported. Many thousands of men and women have been drummed out of the armed forces under this law.
Read rest
3/3
This news item is from Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club
( http://www.lakecountystonewalldemocrats.org/news.php?extend.529 )