Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Which part of “Liberty and Justice for All” do President Obama and the Senate not understand? Let me follow that by saying that I do not believe in war. War settles nothing. War replaces reason and possibility with death and destruction. That said, I also believe in the right of those who believe that war can provide solutions and want to fight in such wars, to do so. I am shocked that the President does not seem to understand that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is not just an affront to LGBT individuals wanting to serve in the military; it is an affront to Democracy. Do Senators not see that it is profane, anti-American and an insult to the Constitution? The government has no right to force citizens to lie in order to take the oath required to serve their country, particularly while telling a lie under oath in court is considered perjury. But then reality has often been lost in the frenzy surrounding certain human rights issues and preventing certain communities from exercising their rights.


The Civil Rights movement was my first cause, but my first arrest for a cause happened in Washington DC when Reagan was in the White House and had yet to mention AIDS. A group of activist leaders from across the country did a Sit In. When the police arrived to arrest us they were wearing big yellow kitchen gloves, afraid to “catch it” by touching us as we chanted, “Your gloves don’t match your shoes. Your gloves don’t match your shoes.” I could go on, but I don’t have to because I am going to suggest that you read Larry Kramer’s Remarks from the ACT UP/HealthGap Demonstration 6/13/2010. While I am not as vociferous in my objections and find areas where the President has made the best of some nearly impossible situations, I want Mr. Obama to make Liberty and Justice for All a reality NOW by addressing the co-epidemics of Global AIDS and homophobia; homophobia first of all within himself, then within his administration and finally to purge it from every policy that is within his prevue. No more politics with the lives of others. (http://www.lgbtpov.com/2010/05/larry-kramer-for-obama-gays-pwas-shit/)

Four things to do:
1. If you don’t think this issue is important to you, think again. The loss of liberty of one group of people opens the door for you to loose yours.
2. Write to the President and tell him that you don’t want your president to stand for institutionalized homophobia and go down in history as prejudiced and passé.
3. The same sentiment would be appropriate for your Senators unless they have already done the right thing.
4. For Senators that are on the right side of the issue, please thank then and ask them to take a leading role in guiding the Senate to stand up for the Constitution and justice.

Sites to visit:
The President: www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Find your Senator on: http://www.senate.gov/