Tsongas slams anti-gay military policy

Massachusetts Rep. Niki Tsongas, the newest member of the state delegation and a member of the House Armed Services Committee's Personnel Subcommittee, delivered a strong rebuke to the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in her opening remarks at the subcommittee's congressional oversight hearing on the policy on July 23.

The hearing marked the first time "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" got a full congressional hearing since it was implemented in 1993 and included the testimony of a number of gay former service members, including Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first soldier wounded in the Iraq War. (For more on the hearing, see "In advance of historic hearing, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' opponents stress patience on repeal.) The following is the text of Tsongas's opening remarks:

I would like to thank Chairwoman Davis for holding this long overdue hearing, as well as thank our witnesses for their participation today.

It was with the support of the district I now represent, and the vision of Marty Meehan, that this out-dated policy has come to the attention of Congress with such powerful effect. And, we are here today in part because Rep. Meehan courageously championed this repeal. I am also grateful to Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher and her leadership on this important issue.

With at least 65,000 gay Americans currently serving our nation with distinction, it is clear that Don't Ask Don't Tell is a policy that must come to an end. When a young man or woman makes the ultimate sacrifice, our nation does not remember them because of their sexual orientation, but because of the great bravery they demonstrated as an American. Their fellow service members do not mourn the death of a gay or lesbian, but the passing of a friend and comrade.

Discrimination based on sexual orientation is intolerable. This flawed and unworkable policy threatens the readiness of our military by discharging hundreds of vital military personnel critical to our national security and shutting the door to thousands more.

There are an estimated 40,000 men and women who would sign up for military service if it weren't for this discriminatory policy. Not only do we lose talented individuals, including vital translators and support personnel, but we discharge individuals at great cost. It is estimated the Pentagon has spent hundreds of million dollars conducting investigations and replacing those discharged service men and women.

There is an inherently dishonest presumption in the current policy, with little to no protection for the honest soldier. Young men and women deserve the opportunity to serve and protect their nation regardless of sexual orientation, not just because they are proud patriots, but because this country is as much theirs as it is yours or mine. It is regrettable that their sexual orientation must play such a central role in their decision.

We can list statistics all day in support of this repeal, including the recent Washington Post-ABC poll that found 75 percent of Americans are in favor of gays serving openly in the military. These numbers, however, do not get to the heart of this issue: that as a nation, we have met great challenges head on and have become stronger as a result.

Discrimination deserves no place on our battlefields, where our service men and women are first and foremost Americans, protecting freedom throughout the world. We cannot then, with any true moral standing, discriminate against distinguished and courageous members of our own military for the simple act of living an authentic life.

No new changes will make this policy any less false. We must reverse it completely.