Posted on 04/12/2005 7:30:16 AM PDT by Kokojmudd
He's one of just 3 Republicans in House for change By C.J. Karamargin ARIZONA DAILY STAR
U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe is among three Republicans supporting legislation to repeal the military's ban on openly gay soldiers.
The Tucson lawmaker, one of three openly gay members of Congress, is a co-sponsor of a bill that would scrap the 12-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Replacing it would be a provision barring discrimination based on sexual orientation "against any member of the armed forces or against any person seeking to become a member of the armed forces."
Motivating Kolbe, according to spokeswoman Kristen Hellmer, is his opposition to "discrimination of any sort."
A local gay activist welcomed Kolbe's support of the bill and cautioned against assuming that the congressman's sexual orientation was a factor.
"He's doing it because it's just and it's fair," said Kent Burbank, director of Wingspan, a Tucson organization that serves gays. Burbank called Kolbe "a well-respected conservative Republican" who realizes that a policy rooted in "fear and bigotry" should not continue.
"It's high time 'don't ask, don't tell' is overturned," he said.
The bill, HR 1059, was introduced last month by Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass. Its 72 co-sponsors include some of the most liberal members of the House, such as Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler of New York and Linda Sánchez of California.
The two other Republicans are Reps. Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. Shays is a moderate who recently has become one of the toughest critics of embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas.
Ros-Lehtinen, a member of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, emerging threats and international relations, represents a district that includes Miami and a politically active gay community in Key West.
"We've tried the policy. I don't think it works," she told The Miami Herald. "People who've signed up to serve our country, we should be thanking them."
Last week, a 23-year-old Army sergeant wounded in Iraq disclosed that he is gay and would like to remain in the military. Robert Stout told The Associated Press that the time has come for the Army to recognize that there are plenty of gay soldiers, "and they aren't causing any harm."
A report issued by the Government Accountability Office in February found that nearly 10,000 men and women have been discharged from the military under the existing policy. Among them were hundreds of language specialists and intelligence analysts.
Adopted in the first year of the Clinton administration, "don't ask, don't tell" prohibits the military from inquiring about the sex lives of service members but calls for the discharge of any service member who acknowledges being gay. Before the policy was enacted, the Pentagon explicitly barred gays from military service.
● Contact reporter C.J. Karamargin at 573-4243 or at ckaramargin@azstarnet.com.
I think "don't ask, don't tell" is reasonable. I think an open homosexual would be disruptive in the military.
Washington needs a frontal lobotomy. Boy, is 2006 going to be a huge anti-incumbent vote...we need Congressmen that are worried about this country, not pandering to queers as a top priority.
"A local gay activist welcomed Kolbe's support of the bill and cautioned against assuming that the congressman's sexual orientation was a factor."
LOL! That sounds like an honest statement, doesn't it?
Meanwhile, Social Security is going broke, disabled citizens are being starved to death at the order of judges, and Constitutionalist nominees for the appellate courts are being 'filibustered'.
But what is most important? Gays in the military.
Beam me up, Mr. Speaker.
If the military were to accept openly gay members, it could achieve all of the dignity and respect now accorded the US Congress.
Keeping track of who to work against in the next election ping
I thought a main reason for prohibiting openly homosexual individuals from serving is the same reason we don't have co-ed barracks, bathrooms, etc. - the issue of "distractions." Maybe someone has more details than I do.
"I thought a main reason for prohibiting openly homosexual individuals from serving is the same reason we don't have co-ed barracks, bathrooms, etc. - the issue of "distractions." Maybe someone has more details than I do."
Back in the day before dont/ask the main reason was homosexuals were thought to be more of a security risk as well as a major distraction.
Thanks. I remember now - the fear of exposure and the possibility of blackmail, among other things.
Homosexual Agenda Ping. I hope those in positions to prevent this do so with every ounce of strength.
I've read a lot of comments about "gays" in the military from actual members, both present and past. The ovewhelming majority of them say: NO HOMOSEXUALS IN THE MILITARY. End of story.
They should get rid of "don't ask, don't tell". They SHOULD ask, and if they answer is "yes", show them the door.
Let DirtyHarryY2K and me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
It is time for "don't ask, don't tell" to revert back to no homosexuals allowed.
Well, now, we could have all the gays drafted, put in thir own groups of course, depending on military branch. Then train them, and ship them immediately to Irag and neighboring countries. LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.