Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman will
introduce a Senate measure to repeal “don't ask, don't tell,” the
1993 policy that bans gay troops from serving openly, Wednesday at
12:30PM.
Joining the Independent senator will be
Democratic Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Carl Levin of
Michigan, Mark Udall of Colorado and Roland Burris of Illinois.
Lieberman and Gillibrand have become
outspoken gay allies of repeal in the Senate. Levin is the chairman
of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the bill's most likely
destination. The committee's ranking Republican is Arizona Senator
John McCain, who has become the Republican face of opposition to
repeal.
The measure will be introduced at a
press conference hosted by Virginia Senator Jim Moran, a Democrat.
Moran's event will feature “a number of service men and women who
will share their personal experiences under DADT,” according to a
statement released to the press.
A House version of the bill was
introduced last year and has attracted 189 cosponsors. Pennsylvania
Representative Patrick Murphy, a Democrat, took over sponsorship of
the measure after California Representative Ellen Tauscher accepted
an appointment in the Obama administration.
The Pentagon's top brass, including
Defense Secretary Roberts Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of
the Joint Chiefs, have publicly announced they support President
Obama's pledge to end the policy, but service chiefs from the various
armed forces have testified against repeal or have expressed
trepidation. Secretary Gates has called for a study on the issue.
Several House members will also attend
the event, including openly gay Jared Polis, a Colorado
Representative, and Democratic Representatives Mike Honda of
California, Jerrold Nadler of New York, and Lois Capps of California.
Major Mike Almy, who was discharged
under the policy after 13 years of Army service, will also
participate.