~ Lawmaker says: ~ Lawmaker says: “No good has ever come of ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell,’ but a lot of bad has.” ~

Washington, DC – Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice), Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, today issued the following statement in support of the amendment offered by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) to the FY2011 Defense Authorization bill to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy.

“As a rookie Member of Congress in 1993, I sat in the most junior chair on the Armed Services Committee, just a few feet from the witness table. Then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Colin Powell testified in favor of the Clinton Administration’s ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell’ policy. I drew a deep breath, and told the General that I thought ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell’ was unconstitutional. I opposed it then, and I oppose it now.

“No good has ever come of ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell,’ but a lot of bad has. I applaud the personal courage of current Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, who told Congress: ‘It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.’

“He’s right, and I have no doubt that America’s Armed Forces will successfully transition to a post-DADT world.

“We’ve all heard the alarms sounded again today about morality and morale, unit cohesion, and readiness. Similar arguments were made when women and African Americans were allowed to serve alongside their white, male counterparts. But be it race, gender, or now sexual orientation, our military services have demonstrated the commitment and ability to integrate and embrace diversity.

“As a female officer in the 10th Mountain Division blogged recently, ‘When DADT is overturned … I won’t be jumping out of my office screaming ‘I’m gay’ to the world. I’ll just be able to breathe easier knowing that my job is secure…’

“With this historic vote, we will allow all servicemen and women who are holding their breath in fear – not of an enemy but of a law created by Congress – to breathe easier.

“Vote aye on the Murphy amendment.”