12/14/2010

Washington– Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, applauded Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Patrick Murphy for introducing a free-standing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The new bill is identical to the language in Rep. Murphy’s DADT repeal amendment passed in the House in May.  Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the companion bill, S.4023, last week after the failed Senate vote to proceed to debate on the National Defense Authorization Act.  The Senate bill currently has 40 bipartisan cosponsors.

“Introduction of a House repeal bill is a strong indicator that momentum is on the side of an end to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “With the leadership of Rep. Murphy and Leader Hoyer, support for DADT repeal in Congress is at an all-time high.  It is up to Congress to act this year to send this failed and discriminatory law to the dustbin of history.”

“I look forward to bringing this bill to the House floor soon, and I hope the Senate will swiftly take action as well so that the bill can be signed into law as soon as possible. This discriminatory and harmful policy has weakened America’s security by depriving us of the work of tens of thousands of gay and lesbian troops who have served their country honorably. And it has severely compromised our Armed Forces’ core value of integrity,” concluded Leader Hoyer.

“The time to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell has come. Already, two dozen other nations, including Israel and Great Britain, allow their troops to serve openly with no detriment to unit cohesion. As an Army veteran of the Iraq War, I’m insulted by those who claim that our troops are somehow less professional or mission-capable than the troops of these foreign nations. I’m proud to stand with the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the majority of servicemembers and the American public who all support repeal of this discriminatory policy that harms our national security and military readiness,” said Rep. Murphy.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.