EDUCATE YOURSELF
Get informed about DADT and the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283), which would amend Title 10 of the United States Code by repealing the current discriminatory military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and replacing it with a military policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The legislation would not only end discrimination in the armed forces and strengthen our national security by utilizing the talents of all who wish to serve, but it would also save the military and the taxpayers millions of dollars that could be put to better use. Read more here.
ATTEND A SCREENING
PBS’ Independent Lens is hosting ASK NOT events in 50 cities across the country in May, 2009, as part of its Community Cinema project. These screenings will include the film, speakers, and communication based on a comprehensive discussion guide. Invite your friends and family. Find out about other screenings by visiting our screenings page, and find out about PBS broadcasts in your local area.
READ A BOOK
Nathaniel Frank’s new book Unfriendly Fire is the definitive story of “don’t ask, don’t tell” written by the nation’s most widely-recognized expert on the policy.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Check out the organizations who are fighting against it, including Servicemembers United, SLDN, HRC, GLSME, Integrity in Service, and PFLAG. (see helpful links below (anchor)). Volunteer, donate, and join their efforts, actions, mailing lists, and social networking groups. Help spread the word.
CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME
There is nothing more effective than talking to your friends and family. They are much more willing to listen to someone they know and respect. If you know people in the military, talk to them about “don’t ask, don’t tell” and serving alongside open gay servicemembers. If you are gay, consider coming out to those around you. Knowing that someone in one’s circle is gay can truly make a difference. Before coming out at work, see if your employer has a policy or your state has a law against sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination by visiting www.hrc.org/worknet.
EXERCISE DEMOCRACY
Write to your members of Congress (in the House and Senate), urging them to lift the ban. As long as you know your zip code, SLDN makes it easy to find out who to write to: www.sldn.org, as does PFLAG. Or use the U.S. government’s form.
PETITION FOR RIGHTS
Sign SLDN’s petition to tell Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act:
HAVE AN OPINION
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspapers supporting the repeal of DADT. Click here for tips on getting your letter published. Or submit a guest blog entry to SLDN, or Integrity in Service.
ATTEND OR ORGANIZE EVENTS
Many organizations schedule times when representatives will come speak to large groups. Set a google alert so you will be informed when something is happening near you. Or join the list serve of one of the groups below to receive news updates and action alerts. Better yet, contact a group from the list below and organize an event in your community! For more information on screening ASK NOT, please contact info@persistent-visions.com.
BE PREPARED
Check out PFLAG’s website for some useful talking points when broaching the topic of DADT, as well as Servicemember’s Legal Defense Network’s Journalist’s Guide to DADT or their Top 10 Reasons to Repeal DADT.
H E L P F U L L I N K S
The Michael D. Palm Center, a new research institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is committed to sponsoring state-of-the-art research to enhance the quality of public dialogue about critical and controversial issues and currently focuses on “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Servicemembers United is the largest all-veteran organization dedicated to educating the American public about the ban on known gay men and women in the military.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
Soulforce works toward freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.
American Veterans for Equal Rights is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran servicemembers dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Gay and Lesbian Servicemembers for Equality a great resource for servicemembers and non-servicemembers alike.
The DADT Database contains primary materials on the U.S. military’s policy on sexual orientation from World War I to the present.
The Gay Military Times is dedicated to providing a voice to the movement to achieve equality in America’s armed forces so that patriotic American volunteers may serve our nation openly and in pride regardless of sexual orientation.
HRC is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
Integrity in Service helping to educate about DADT, understand how it has failed, and inspire to act and bring about change.
Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters, celebrates diversity and envisions a society that embraces everyone.
Women’s E News wrote an article explaining the additional discrimination experienced by women under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.