Resolution, Approved by City Council & Mayor, Sent to AZ Congressional
Delegation
TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mayor Bob Walkup and
the Tucson, Arizona City Council have approved a resolution calling on
Congress to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian,
gay and bisexual service personnel. The resolution, which has been
forwarded to President George W. Bush and the entire Arizona Congressional
delegation, states in part that "Military readiness is enhanced when every
qualified, capable American, regardless of sexual orientation, is welcomed
into our Armed Forces and has his or her talents utilized in the best
interest of our national security." The Tucson measure follows similar
resolutions from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Saint Louis.
"Communities from coast to coast realize they are less safe when
qualified men and women are turned away from our fighting forces simply
because they are lesbian or gay," said Steve Ralls, director of
communications for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "More than
22,500 lesbian and gay veterans call Arizona home. The Tucson resolution
pays tribute to their service and the ongoing service of more than 65,000
lesbian and gay troops on duty in our armed forces today. Congress should
follow the lead of Tucson and demand an end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' once
and for all."
The House of Representatives is currently considering The Military
Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a Congressional bill, sponsored by
Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) are among
131 bi-partisan co-sponsors of the legislation. Arizona Senator John McCain
(R-AZ), also a 2008 Republican presidential candidate, re-iterated his
support for the military ban during an appearance in New Hampshire earlier
this week.
"This policy represents the only example in the United States of
legislation that requires discrimination," said Pamela Liberty, co-chair of
the City of Tucson GLBT Commission. "On average, two service members each
day are discharged solely on the basis of sexual orientation... We are
proud of our Mayor and Council Members for adding their voices to the
growing demand to end this discriminatory policy."
For more information on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and local resolutions
supporting repeal, visit http://www.sldn.org.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal
services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending
discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance. For more
information, visit http://www.sldn.org.
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