TAKE ACTION: End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' | Sign on to the Letter to Sen. Bill Nelson

Ron Bunting of Tallahassee spent 20 years in the Navy and is a Vietnam veteran. He asked us to share the message below with Equality Florida members. Please join us as we team up with Progress Florida and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and urge Sen. Bill Nelson to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Please forward this message to your friends and family so we can end this discriminatory policy once and for all.
Nadine Smith
Executive Director, Equality Florida
________________________________________

I'm writing to you today because the opportunity to right a wrong and stop injustice and discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members has never been greater.

Historic legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. All eyes will now be on the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) is a member. This small group of Senators on the Armed Services Committee could determine whether we get a repeal this year, or not.
Click here to sign on to our letter urging Sen. Bill Nelson to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The momentum for repeal is growing nationally and in our state, and includes an unprecedented level of military support for ending the law. Both Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates -- along with two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Shalikashvili, Gen. Colin Powell, and former Vice-President Dick Cheney -- agree with the commander in chief: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" needs to end.

Here at home, nine members of Florida's congressional delegation ranging from Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Miami) to Democrat Kathy Castor (Tampa) have co-sponsored this historic legislation. As the legislative session kicked off in Tallahassee, Rep. Rick Kriseman filed a bill urging Congress and the President to repeal the archaic law. And thanks to the hard work of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network city governments, the latest being Lake Worth, are passing resolutions in support. Now, we need your help.

Sign our letter to Sen. Nelson: end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The Lieberman/Levin bill in the Senate effectively mirrors repeal legislation in the House of Representatives championed by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.). Both call for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and a new policy of nondiscrimination. But make no mistake: Congress needs to act and to do so this year.

No other law mandates firing someone because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. The 65,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and one million veterans, should not be treated as second class citizens.

Thank you in advance for your commitment to justice for every active duty military service member and veteran in the United States.

Yours in service,

Ron Bunting, US Navy (ret.)
Tallahassee

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