Urge the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and President Obama repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) by supporting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA). 

What is "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"(DADT)?

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) is the current federal law prohibiting lesbians and gays from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Forces.  It is also the only law in the U.S. that requires people to be dishonest about their personal lives or face the possibility of being fired. 

The Problem

Since DADT was enacted into law in 1993, more than 14,000 lesbian and gay service members have been discharged because of DADT.  Of these discharges, nearly 1,000 specialists with vital mission critical skills - Arabic linguists, for example - have been discharged. 

In a time of war, the military should not be discharging or preventing the enlistment of well-qualified service members based on their sexual orientation.  On the battlefield, it does not matter whether a service member is lesbian, gay or straight; what matters is that a service member gets the job done. This discriminatory law hurts military readiness and national security while putting American service members fighting overseas at risk.  

The Solution: The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA)

The MREA (S. 3065; H.R. 1283), sponsored by U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA 10), is the legislation that repeals DADT.  If the DADT law was repealed, it is estimated that the U.S. Armed Forces could attract an additional 36,700 women and men to active-duty service and an additional 12,000 individuals to the Guard and Reserve. 

Also under MREA, it would prohibit the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation against any member of the Armed Forces or any person seeking to become a member. It would authorize the re-accession into the Armed Forces of otherwise qualified individuals previously separated for homosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexual conduct.

It would also require such Secretaries to ensure that regulations governing the personal conduct of members of the Armed Forces are written and enforced without regard to sexual orientation.

By passing the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (S. 3065; H.R. 1283), it would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

What you can do to help pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act?

Please call and/or write your U.S. Representatives and Senators, and President Obama and tell them to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by passing the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (S. 3065; H.R. 1283).

Please sign the petition below to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by passing the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (S. 3065; H.R. 1283).