Former Senator Sam Nunn Calls On Congress to Revisit 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

WASHINGTON, June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn said today that he believes it is time for Congress to revisit the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law which bans lesbians, gays and bisexuals from serving openly in the military. Nunn, one of the principle lawmakers responsible for the passage of the 1993 law, said in Atlanta, "I think [when] 15 years go by on any personnel policy, it's appropriate to take another look at it -- see how it's working, ask the hard questions, hear from the military. Start with a Pentagon study."

"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was bad law when Senator Nunn pushed it forward in 1993 and it is still bad law. It is still a violation of our basic civil rights," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "But I am happy that he thinks, however belatedly, that it's time for Congress to take another look at the law. A hundred and forty three House members are ahead of him. They have already taken a look and they responded by cosponsoring HR 1246, the bill to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' House Armed Services Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis is holding a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' hearing this summer."

"It's a bit of a stretch for Senator Nunn to now suggest a Pentagon study when one was done by the Rand Corporation in 1993 and whose findings were totally at odds with the proposed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. Unfortunately, Senator Nunn rejected that study and instead gave us 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Nunn, who in 1993 served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and strongly opposed President Bill Clinton's proposal to allow gay to serve openly in the military went on to tell the crowd "the policy was the right policy for the right time, and times change. It's appropriate to take another look."

"Fifteen years later Senator Nunn has the opportunity to reject 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' I hope he will in fact become an advocate for repeal and open service," said Sarvis.

Since its implementation in 1993, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has resulted in the dismissal of more than 12,000 men and women from the armed forces. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), nearly 800 of those dismissed had skills deemed 'mission-critical' by the Department of Defense, including more than 300 language specialists. The cost to U.S. taxpayers for maintaining the ban is estimated at more than $363 million.

A December 18th Zogby poll also found that 73% of military personnel polled were comfortable with lesbians and gays.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org/.

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Source: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

CONTACT: Victor Maldonado of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network,
+1-202-328-3244, ext. 123, vmaldonado@sldn.org

Web Site: http://www.sldn.org/

2008-06-03 20:18:49 0376801 PRNEWSWIRE