End DADT: Call the President, Demand Change

2.2.10- Isabell James

For anyone who may have missed his speech last Wednesday, President Obama mentioned Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), stating repeal would occur “This Year.” The following day in Tampa, referencing a moment before the 2008 Presidential election, President Obama quoted himself, “Change never comes without a fight.”

Victims of DADT watched closely today as we had some initial, actual progress with the first DADT hearings in seventeen years.

Robert Gates declared, “The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we … best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the commander in chief and we are moving out accordingly.”

Although Gates will establish a panel to study the issue, this could take a year or more. Unfortunately, when asked if the military would provide a suspension on DADT discharges, Gates responded, “I’ll get back to you on that.”

Together, we must end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2010. There are 332 days left.
Jo and I encourage all of you to write, call, protest and pray.

A GREAT Message from SLDN:

Call the White House Switchboard

Call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414 and tell the president to: Phone

* Make good on his commitment to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and include repeal in his defense budget

* Partner with Congress so that we can get repeal done in 2010

Example Script for Your Call

Hello, my name is __________ and I’m calling from __________ (city, state).

I’m calling to urge President Obama to keep his promise to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and include repeal in his defense budget. This discrimination is wrong. Firing qualified service members simply because they’re gay needs to stop in 2010. Thank you.

Movements for Change

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

http://www.sldn.org/

Voices of Honor Campaign
HRC, Partnering with Servicemembers United on a National Tour to Repeal DADT

http://www.hrc.org/sites/voicesofhonor/index.asp

Campaign for Military Partners
Servicemembers United leads this initiative to reach out to, recognize, connect, and support the partners of active duty gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender military personnel

http://militarypartners.org/

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Story Project
http://www.kirstengillibrand.com/dadtstoryproject.com/

Resource and Reality Check

http://dadtarchive.org/

Take a look at how many have been discharged for being who they are.