Calling the Law “Wrong-headed and Discriminatory”
Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 8:29 PM
Washington, D.C.: Cristina Finch, government relations director for Amnesty International USA, issued the following comments today welcoming the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
“The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is long overdue – it was wrong-headed and discriminatory. Laws that discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation clearly violate human rights principles. The U.S. Government should never have put this law into effect and should have abolished it long ago.
"Since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” went into effect, more than 14,000 men and women who were trained and serving in the U.S. military were fired because of their sexual orientation. And at the same time, thousands more lesbian, gay and bisexual service members were forced to hide the core of who they are as human beings. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will ensure that all service members, regardless of their sexual orientation, are treated with the dignity and respect that all human beings deserve."
“The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is long overdue – it was wrong-headed and discriminatory. Laws that discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation clearly violate human rights principles. The U.S. Government should never have put this law into effect and should have abolished it long ago.
"Since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” went into effect, more than 14,000 men and women who were trained and serving in the U.S. military were fired because of their sexual orientation. And at the same time, thousands more lesbian, gay and bisexual service members were forced to hide the core of who they are as human beings. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will ensure that all service members, regardless of their sexual orientation, are treated with the dignity and respect that all human beings deserve."
Note: Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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