Over the past few months, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has been making a bold move to gain support for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283) that would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
SLDN has been working on a nation-wide effort to get local governments to pass resolutions requesting adoption of this federal legislation to show the overwhelming support for lifting the discriminatory ban. They are contacting local organizations and municipal leaders to show legislators that their districts support them signing on to co-sponsor HR 1283.
So far, 13 municipalities have passed resolutions around the country, including cities in Miami, FL this week. In fact, four cities in Florida alone have passed the resolutions, including my home city of Oakland Park, FL, led by my husband (and Bilerico Florida contributor) Commissioner Anthony Niedwiecki. Other cities around the country include: St Louis, Portland, San Francisco, Atlanta, Tuscon, LA, New York, and many others.
This move to show the huge support for repealing DADT (and giving skittish legislators a reason to sign on the legislation) is perhaps a great lesson on how to push national pro-LGBT legislation.
We all know the natural state of legislators is overly cautious inertia. They tend to lag decades behind the public on many issues. By moving on a grassroots, in their home district level, we can perhaps give them the political cover they think they need.
Do I wish they would just do the right thing and move our legislation? Absolutely. But the reality of the basic conservative nature of politicians makes moves like this something we should be seriously looking at as a movement.
Having worked with SLDN when they came to my husband asking to pass this resolution, I can see the absolute value of this tactic. They came to us with all the information needed to convince not just allies, but also people who might be more close-minded to LGBT issues. They provided the guidance, then tapped local leaders and organizations, who have relationships with law-makers, to do the ground work.
Imagine how much more powerful our lobbying days would be if we could walk in with resolutions from the cities in a legislator's district, which represents money, support, and votes to them. The ground up effect could be astounding for not just DADT, but also and inclusive ENDA, repealing DOMA, and other LGBT important legislation.
So kudos to the national push from SLDN and all the local organizations who are doing everything in their sphere of influence to make change. Let's all learn the lesson and use it as we move forward.
Share
Like what you read? Subscribe to The Bilerico Project by Email.
Want others to read it too? Use the buttons and links here to share this entry with others. (Move your cursor over a button or link to learn more about it.)
2 Comments
« Straight people don't bite (unless you ask nicely!) | Home | Sotomayor & The Vulcan Standard, Pt 1. »
Folks, I have been in contact with our Congressional Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and an email which came to my inbox today (Monday 27 July 2009) I am going to paste it into this response for DADT. Being a Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm veteran and QUEER retired now so I don't need to worry about getting kicked out for loving whom I want when I want him. I am sincerely hoping that Peter is not blowing smoke with this issue. Here is what he wrote in his email to me:
Dear Mr. Frommherz:(My real name too)
Thanks for your message in support of H.R. 1283, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009. I appreciate hearing from you.
As you know, this legislation would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy pushed through by President Clinton, and would replace it with a prohibition on the military discriminating based on sexual orientation. You will be pleased to know that I am an original cosponsor of this bill and have supported it during previous sessions of Congress as well.
The private, legal sexual conduct of military personnel, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should not be of interest to the Pentagon leadership. An individual's performance in uniform is what should count. The current policy is costly both in terms of money and in terms of eroding our national security since military personnel with critical skills, including Arabic language skills, have been forced out of the military solely because they were gay.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me. Please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Rep. Peter DeFazio
Fourth District, OREGON
PS from Daniel Frommherz: I telephoned his Eugene Oregon office with a thank you stating in addition that it was the occupation of our soldiers as a whole more than simply translators and such but everyone in uniform.
Daniel Lewis Frommherz | July 28, 2009 1:14 AM
Reply to this comment
Great Article, Mayon. I'm one of your fans from this moment. That's one of the best articles I've ever read on Bilerico Project
Regards,
Aaron Smith, HostGator Reseller Coupon
Aaron Smith | December 14, 2009 9:36 PM
Reply to this comment