RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the codification into law by the National Defense Authorization Act of 1994 of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass" policy has led to the discharge of a great number of lesbian and gay service members, thereby ending their military careers and burdening them with a lifelong stigma; and

WHEREAS, the United States Armed Forces' capacity to carry out its missions, including those of the Global War on Terrorism, is hindered when competent and qualified individuals are involuntarily discharged; and

WHEREAS, the Armed Forces have been forced to retain Reserve and National Guard service members on active duty beyond standard deployment lengths to carry out their missions during the Global War on Terrorism; and

WHEREAS, the Armed Forces' ability to recruit and retain the best and brightest of Americans is reduced by a policy of exclusion based solely on sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, lesbian and gay service members have served with honor throughout United States history, and continue to serve with distinction in the Global War on Terrorism, including engagement in the Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, these men and women have received military honors, decorations, and promotions to the highest ranks of their respective services for valor and service to the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, United States allies in the War on Terrorism, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel, all allow lesbian and gay service members to serve openly; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and other federal departments handling national security allow their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender personnel to serve openly; and

WHEREAS, a February 2005 Government Accountability Office report states that more than 9,488 service members have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including at least 757 service members in "critical occupations" such as counterintelligence experts, at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $200,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Defense reported that 209 language specialists have been discharged from the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including fifty-four Arabic and nine Farsi translators, which are of vital importance to intelligence gathering and have been in critical shortage; and

WHEREAS, a study conducted by the Center for the Study Of Sexual Minorities in the Military suggests that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy increases gay troops' stress levels; lowers morale; reduces access to medical care, psychological services and religious consultations; and limits their ability to form trusting bonds with peers, advance professionally, and join and remain in the services; and

WHEREAS, every Department of Defense authorized study has shown that there is no correlation between sexual orientation and unit cohesion in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the majority of American citizens support keeping trained and skilled openly gay and lesbian service members in the military; and

WHEREAS, the United States military's readiness to protect and defend our nation is severely compromised by the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, particularly when enforced by commanders whose personal beliefs may influence their disciplinary action; and

WHEREAS, discharges under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" are historically fewer when troop strength is low, as in times of war, which illustrates both a tacit military recognition that lesbian and gay service members are fit and capable of service, and the capricious nature of the policy; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2005 local news estimate, Hawaii had 83 of the country's 425 major military installations which are home to thousands of military personnel and their families; and

WHEREAS, according to a 2004 Urban Institute study, an estimated 6,300 lesbian and gay veterans live in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature and courts of the State of Hawaii have extended protections based on sexual orientation to prevent invidious discrimination which affirm lesbian and gay citizens are entitled to equality under the law; and

WHEREAS, House Resolution 1059 of 2005, known as the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal the standing discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that has lead to the discharge of lesbian and gay service members on the basis of sexual orientation, has been introduced in the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, military readiness is enhanced when every qualified, capable American, regardless of sexual orientation, is welcomed into our Armed Forces and has their talents utilized to the advantage of American national security; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature of the state of Hawaii requests that the Hawaii Congressional delegation support House Resolution 1059 of 2005, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would institute a military policy of nondiscrimination based upon sexual orientation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to each member of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

Report Title:

Support for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act