Equal People Organization, Inc., a human-rights nonprofit, is teaming up with the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), and other groups and activists across North Carolina to help bring awareness of the need to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, the anti-gay law passed in 1993 prohibiting open military service by gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans.

Burr and Hagan could be key voices in the passage of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 (S. 3065), a bill which would repeal DADT.  This bill is currently under debate in the United States Senate. NC Representatives can also help to ensure passage on a similar bill that is currently in the House of Representatives (HR 1283).

The U.S. military has discharged more than 13,500 gay and lesbian service members since DADT's implementation in 1994.  Among the thousands booted from their honorable and courageous service were more than 800 mission-critical troops.  In the past five years, the military has discharged at least 59 Arabic and Farsi linguists.  Further, our government has wasted between $250 million and $1.2 billion enforcing the law, critical funds that could have been used to support rather than to undermine our military readiness.  The facts point to only one conclusion:  DADT is a costly threat to national security and must be repealed.

In support of equal rights, we are calling on North Carolina Senators Burr and Hagan to help keep our country strong and safe by co-sponsoring the Military Readiness Enhancement Act in order to repeal these damaging policies.

At the end of April, Equal People Organization and activists from across the state will deliver 54,000 toy soldiers, along with letters of support, to the Washington D.C offices of Senators Burr and Hagan, as well as Representatives McIntyre and Kissell. It is time to end this policy of discrimination and exclusion.

Other organizations working to support the March on Myrick, Stand with Honor and March on McIntyre Campaigns include: Blue Devils United (duke.edu/web/dbunited/), CRANE (rainbowaction.org), HRC Carolinas (northcarolina.hrc.org), NoH8NC (noh8nc.com), N.C. State GLBT Center (ncsu.edu/student_affairs/glbt/), N.C. State GLBTCA and UNC-Chapel Hill GBLTSA (unc.edu/glbtsa/).

Related Links: (Archived)
Stand with Honor: Soldier Count
Stand with Honor: Events & Drop Off Locations
Stand with Honor: Press Package