Cathedral City: Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA -- The Cathedral City Council approved, by a vote of 4 to 1, a resolution on Sept. 28 calling for the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The resolution urges Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill pending in Congress to repeal the military's ban and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans to serve openly. That bill is currently supported by 97 Members of Congress, including 22 members of California's Congressional delegation -- more than any other state.

"Servicemembers Legal Defense Network commends the Cathedral City Council for taking a strong stand against discrimination in our armed forces," said SLDN Executive Director C. Dixon Osburn. "The military's ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members impacts every American in every community. Our freedoms are more secure, from New York to California, when every qualified American is given the opportunity to serve, regardless of sexual orientation."

"More than 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans currently serve in our armed forces and one million lesbian, gay and bisexual veterans have sacrificed for our nation's liberties, including 137,000 LGBT veterans who now call California home. Congress should heed the calls of their constituents and repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' once and for all."

In an interview with the Riverside County Press-Enterprise, Republican Councilman Charles "Chuck" Vasquez stated that he "find(s) the whole policy morally reprehensible. It's one last bastion of bigotry in this country."

The Cathedral City Council resolution follows similar measures adopted by the New York, West Hollywood, San Francisco and Chicago city councils. Earlier this year a statewide resolution calling for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," sponsored by Equality California and Sen. Christine Kehoe, passed the California State Legislature, making it the first state in the nation to officially endorse repeal of the military's gay ban.