Hearing on Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy This Week

According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, there will be a legislative hearing on the military's anti-LGBT "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy at 12pm on Wednesday July 23rd chaired by Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego).

Scheduled to testify against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.), U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.), and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva.

General Coleman, who served as a Division Commander, sits on the SLDN Military Advisory Council. His decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Captain Darrah’s assignments included serving as Deputy Director of the Human Resources Directorate at the Office of Naval Intelligence. A graduate of the Naval War College, she also belongs to the SLDN Military Advisory Council.

Sergeant Alva was the first American wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in the Marine Corps for 13 years.

Since its implementation in 1993, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has resulted in the dismissal of more than 12,500 men and women from the armed forces. Nearly 800 of those dismissed under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” had skills deemed 'mission-critical' by the Department of Defense. More than 300 of those discharged were language specialists, including 58 Arabic linguists. The cost to U.S. taxpayers for maintaining the ban is estimated at more than $363 million.

Many bloggers have been remarking on the recently released ABC/Washington Post poll showing nearly overwhelming support by the American public for allowing openly LGBT soldiers to serve their country in the military. Towleroad has the number at 75% of all Americans approving of openly gay servicemembers.