Sign the Petition!

Sign the petition that Congressman Patrick Murphy will present to his fellow members of the 111th Congress urging the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Help him strengthen our military and improve our national security by ending this misguided, failed policy.

To my esteemed colleagues in the United States Congress:

By the end of the day today, the United States Military will have fired two servicemembers in compliance with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, simply for being gay, lesbian or bisexual.  At a time when we are fighting two wars in  Iraq and Afghanistan, it is nonsensical that our government offers tens of thousands of dollars to recruit new personnel while kicking out other qualified, dedicated military personnel strictly on the basis of their sexual orientation.
 
Support to abolish “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” continues to grow within the military community.  More than one hundred retired generals and admirals, including former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander, signed a letter to Congress urging the repeal of this outdated law.  Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili, a former proponent of the policy, has written compellingly about the need for its repeal.
 
It makes no sense to discharge capable servicemembers for their sexual orientation. Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” more than 13,000 qualified men and women have been dismissed from service to our country. This count includes over 800 medics, fighter pilots, and others deemed to be “mission critical.” Most baffling may be the 57 Arabic linguists who have been discharged under this law – linguists who, had they remained in the military, would today be translating vital information critical to our national security during this time of war.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” clearly isn’t working for our military: the government spends tens of thousands of dollars to recruit new personnel while discharging other qualified, dedicated military personnel strictly on the basis of their sexual orientation.  The long-term economic costs of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have been incredibly wasteful, with a 2005 GAO study estimating that American taxpayers have paid between $250 million and $1.2 billion to investigate, eliminate and replace servicemembers under the law.
 
The facts show that there is overwhelming bipartisan support for repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.” A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 75% of Americans support open service by gays and lesbians, including 59% of conservative Republicans. Twenty-six other countries, including our important allies in Great Britain and Israel, allow gay individuals to serve openly in their militaries, and their armed forces have not experienced any detriment to troop morale, readiness, or unit cohesion. It is time to allow our military to recruit and retain all of the brave, qualified, talented individuals who wish to serve our country, regardless of their sexual orientation. 
 
There are approximately one million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States today, as well as 65,000 gay and lesbian servicemembers currently serving in our Armed Forces. These brave men and women are now fighting and dying for our country in two wars. They're making the ultimate sacrifice to keep our families and our nation safe, just like their straight counterparts. Please join me and the thousands of veterans, servicemembers, and concerned citizens who have signed this petition in urging the repeal of this shameful law.

Sincerely,

Congressman Patrick J. Murphy
Pennsylvania, 8th District