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(San Francisco, California) San
Francisco’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a city
resolution calling for repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell”.
The resolution notes that “lesbian, gay, and
bisexual service members have served and are serving bravely and honorably in
all branches of the United States Armed Forces and in all locations, national
and international,” and goes on to say that “national security and military
readiness will be best served by allowing every willing and able American to
serve in the United States Armed Forces, without regard to sexual
orientation.”
The resolution was adopted in support of a
statewide resolution introduced in the California State Legislature in April by
Senator Christine Kehoe. The measure passed a Judiciary Committee by a vote of 4
- 1, following testimony yesterday in Sacramento.
Kehoe's resolution calls on Congress to pass a
bill submitted in March to repeal the anti-gay law. The federal measure has more
than 50 Congressional co-sponsors. (story)
A study done by the Government Accountability
Office shows that more than 10,000 service members have been discharged over the
last 10 years under the policy and that it has cost taxpayers more than $200
million to recruit replacements for LGBT enlisted service members who were
discharged. (story)
In addition to the resolution passed in San
Francisco, New York (story)
and West Hollywood City Councils have passed similar resolutions.
Meanwhile, the group that
represents gays in the military is demanding an apology from
Texas Gov. Rick Perry for comments he made on the weekend.
After Perry signed a bill
sending to voters a proposed amendment to the state
Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage he referred to
LGBT demonstrators as gripers. (story)
The governor was then asked at
a press conference how he would tell Texas gay and lesbian war
veterans that they cannot come home from war in Iraq and get
married.
"Texans made a decision
about marriage and if there's a state that has more lenient
views than Texas, then maybe that's a better place for them to
live," Perry replied.
In demanding an apology, the
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network noted that more than
66,000 lesbian and gay veterans call Texas home.
"Their service has secured
liberty and freedom for every Texan, including Governor
Perry," SLDN said in a statement. "We - and he
- should be thanking them."
©365Gay.com 2005
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