Let Them Serve: Working to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy is the first veteran from the current Iraq War to serve in Congress.  He's also the lead legislator behind efforts to repeal the archaic and discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which prevents openly gay and lesbian soldiers from serving in the U.S. military.  For Rep. Murphy, there is one solid, succinct message for the U.S. government: Let gays and lesbians serve.

Rep. Murphy is also the vision behind a new Web site, www.letthemserve.com, which advocates for a full repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  In the words of Murphy, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell compromises our military readiness and hurts our national security."  The site, while in its infancy stages, includes some powerful narratives from gay and lesbian military veterans who talk about how proud they were to serve the U.S., even though current U.S. policy would exclude them.

Stories like Navy Airman H.K.'s, who notes that it was his dream since childhood to serve the U.S. military.  But after two years of service, the lies that H.K. had to tell in order to avoid being "outed" were simply too much, and he took an administrative discharge.

Or stories like Army Specialist D.C.'s, who as a straight ally, notes that all of the soldiers in his battery would have proudly fought next to gay or lesbian troops, if only the U.S. government would allow them to serve.

Straight, gay, lesbian...they all have the same message: it makes absolutely no sense for the U.S. government to continue a policy under which 13,000 qualified troops have been discharged simply on the basis of their sexual orientation.  That's why Rep. Murphy created letthemserve.com, and it's why thousands of people have already signed a petition to Congress right here at change.org calling for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  (Have you signed yet?)

Here's Rep. Murphy below at Netroots Nation this weekend, calling again for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  Rep. Murphy puts it all out on the table, saying that he is confident that a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" bill will reach the President's desk, and the U.S. military (like more than twenty other militaries around the country, including many of our allies) will be accepting of gay and lesbian troops.