Lawmakers press Obama on 'don't ask, don't tell'
Seventy-seven House members are urging President Obama to suspend the investigation and discharge of military personnel because of their sexual orientation.
“We urge you to exercise the maximum discretion legally possible in administering don't ask, don't tell until Congress repeals the law,” the lawmakers wrote to Obama yesterday.
The House lawmakers are asking Obama to direct the military leadership not to initiate any investigation of personnel to determine their sexual orientation and to instruct military officials to disregard any accusations made by third parties with the regard to sexual orientation of personnel.
“We request that you impose that no one is asked and that you ignore, as the law requires, third parties who tell,” the lawmakers, led by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) wrote. “Under your leadership, Congress must then repeal and replace don't ask, don't tell with a policy of inclusion and non-discrimination.”
President Obama has pledged to repeal the don’t ask, don’t tell law, which bans openly gay people to serve in the military. However, Obama and Pentagon leaders have not yet taken any steps to repeal that law, despite strong pressure from gay rights advocates.
Among the signatories of the letter are several member of the Democratic House leadership, including Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Jerry Curl fave Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-Fla.).
“We urge you to exercise the maximum discretion legally possible in administering don't ask, don't tell until Congress repeals the law,” the lawmakers wrote to Obama yesterday.The House lawmakers are asking Obama to direct the military leadership not to initiate any investigation of personnel to determine their sexual orientation and to instruct military officials to disregard any accusations made by third parties with the regard to sexual orientation of personnel.
“We request that you impose that no one is asked and that you ignore, as the law requires, third parties who tell,” the lawmakers, led by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) wrote. “Under your leadership, Congress must then repeal and replace don't ask, don't tell with a policy of inclusion and non-discrimination.”
President Obama has pledged to repeal the don’t ask, don’t tell law, which bans openly gay people to serve in the military. However, Obama and Pentagon leaders have not yet taken any steps to repeal that law, despite strong pressure from gay rights advocates.
Among the signatories of the letter are several member of the Democratic House leadership, including Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Jerry Curl fave Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-Fla.).
(Via The Hill)
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