Take Action NOW: Demand an Apology From Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace
CALL TO ACTION from HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN and Sgt. Eric Alva (ret.)
From Sgt. Eric Alva (ret.), writing from The Human Rights Campaign in Washington DC
Dear Friend,
Yesterday, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Chicago Tribune that he supports the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays serving in the military because homosexual acts “are immoral,” and compared it to an adulterous affair with the spouse of another service member.
It’s this kind of blind prejudice against the estimated thousands of gay and lesbian military personnel that defend our nation each and every day that is truly immoral.
In fact, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee issued a statement today opposing Gen. Pace's comments. "I respectfully, but strongly disagree with the chairman's view that homosexuality is immoral," Warner said.
Earlier this month, I announced that I am a gay American as I stood with Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) to introduce the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It was one of my proudest moments when I told Americans across the country that my sacrifice as the first US military wounded in Iraq was for all Americans, including members of the GLBT community.
Please join me in sending a message to Gen. Pace and our nation’s leaders that this type of discrimination is wrong.
I urge you to contact the Department of Defense and the White House today to demand that General Pace apologize for his bigoted remarks. You can use the talking points at the bottom of this email to help compose your messages.
To contact the Department of Defense, click here.
To contact the White House, email:comments@whitehouse.gov
To thank Senator Warner for his comment, clickhere.
To take further action, please contact your Representative and encourage them to become a co-sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Yours,
Sgt. Eric Alva (ret.)
Suggested Talking Points:
1. The vast majority of Americans support the right of service members to serve openly and honestly, and the majority of service members are comfortable serving alongside gay and lesbian troops.
2. Judging gay men and women in the military for factors unrelated to their willingness and ability to serve our country undermines our military’s effectiveness.
3. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" poses exorbitant costs to the military and nation.
4. This kind of prejudice is going to continue to have a direct impact on our national security as we fire qualified gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the military for no good reason.
5. General Pace’s bigotry must be condemned and he should immediately apologize to the nation and the estimated tens of thousands gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals currently serving in the military.
6. President Bush should also demand an apology from General Pace.
For all information related to this piece please see:
http://www.hrc.org/
