Virginia Partisans: The Voice of LGBT Democrats in Virginia

Recently US Senator Jim Webb voted against an amendment in the Senate Armed Services Committee that would repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy used by the military to legally discriminate against LGBT service members.  Virginia Partisans sent following letter to the senator to express our thoughts on the matter. 

We encourage you to keep the dialogue going with both Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner by contacting their offices via email or phone.

Webb: http://webb.senate.gov/  202-224-4024

Warner: http://warner.senate.gov/public/  202-224-2023

Honorable Senator Jim Webb:

I am compelled to write to you today on behalf of the Virginia Partisans to share our deep disappointment and puzzlement over your recent vote on the S3065 Amendment  and comments regarding the repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy affecting LGBT service members.  We are disappointed that you have chosen to not vote in favor of moving the repeal forward as a simple matter of equality and justice for LGBT service men and women who we assume you champion along with their counterparts in your role on the Senate Armed Services Committee.  Given the stated desire for input from those serving and their families, we hope that the review will also include input from the ones most affected by the policy, LGBT service personnel  and their families. 

Frankly, we have to question the need for further reviews and reports on this issue given all the documented debate from all sides these last 17 years as well as real time examples of the transition already successfully accomplished by the armed forces of several of our US allies.  But we understand the need for compromise in today's political environment so we felt the proposed amendment passed by the House and the SASC was a positive and necessary step in the right direction. At the end of the day it would seem to establish the framework and a deadline to change the law, gather the input so important to the military and allow for a reasonable amount of time to implement the change.

So, we are puzzled by your opposition to  this compromise approach and have to question yet again just where you are on what is essentially the latest civil rights challenge of our time.  Putting aside the timetables and reviews and political delays for a minute  Senator, the question and answer is really quite simple.  Do you support a full non-discrimination policy for our military that includes LGBT service members or don't you?  Given your stated support for ENDA, we have to question what looks like an exception to your understanding of what should be a basic American and Democratic Party value.  Equal Rights and fair treatment under the law.  Please explain for us why the US military should be exempt from protecting this basic human right?

Hopefully you are actually with us in principle and will find a way to finally be comfortable enough with the process and the vehicle to come on board with us, the President, Chair of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense to support the repeal of DADT.  If not, then the Virginia Partisans pledge to continue this discussion and our attempt to educate you on issues like this one that are critical to our community.  Although from a more distant and frustrated position.

Respectfully,

Mr. Terry Mansberger, President

Virginia Partisans : The Voice of LGBT Democrats in Virginia