Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't be Stupid

Dear Congressman Mica/Senator Nelson/Senator LeMieux:

I am writing to you to let you know that I support the Veteran's Lobby Day that occurred yesterday, May 11th, in support of repealing the discriminatory and dehumanizing Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of the United States military.

In addition to being hurtful to the gay men and lesbian women who choose to serve our nation in the armed forces, DADT has the opposite of its intended effect: instead of increasing unit cohesion, DADT damages the esprit de corps by forcing these patriots to lie to the other members of their unit about who they are from the first day of basic training.

This explicitly privileges heterosexual service members, particularly men, who feel they have the tacit approval of the entire institution when they commit acts of verbal or physical abuse against those they suspect of being homosexual. Women can be called into separation hearings on no basis more reliable than the word of a single male accuser - a man the woman has simply turned down for a date, in many cases. These hearings are a tremendous waste of everyone's time and money, and the loss of the skills and training of each of the more than 1,200 people who have been discharged since 1993 are an even greater travesty.

Gays and lesbians are willing to give their lives in service to this country. Why won't America give them the dignity they deserve in return? Please vote to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell as soon as possible and allow these true patriots to serve openly.

Sincerely,
Caroline Leonard



(DA, DT, DBS was the working title of a massive paper I wrote on the subject a year ago. Don't be stupid - it don't work.)

(Also an update summing up the last month is shortly forthcoming, I swears. I've completed another goal!)
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