Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 14:24:35 -1000
From: SLDN1@aol.com (by way of lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice))
Subject: SA 081:  Alert: DA, DT, DP review jeopardized

ACTION ALERT

Calls, faxes and emails are urgently needed to the White House urging the
Administration to  properly address ongoing violations of Don't Ask, Don't
Tell, Don't Pursue.  Please see below for back ground details, contact
information and suggested response language to cut and paste.

****ISSUE*****
In a letter dated 10 July 1997, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
requested to meet with White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry regarding his
recent comments that mischaracterize the military's anti-gay policy and that
encourage the Defense Department panel currently reviewing Don't Ask, Don't
Tell, Don't Pursue to turn a blind eye to command abuses.  At the July 3rd
White House press briefing, Mr. McCurry stated, "We continue to believe that
the policy is a good one, it is being implemented effectively by the
Department of Defense" in response to a question about the policy being ruled
unconstitutional in the case of Able v. USA the day before.

SLDN Co-Executive Directors Michelle Benecke and Dixon Osburn wrote, "This is
a puzzling assessment in light of the overwhelming evidence indicating that
military officials have violated the policy with impunity and that discharges
under the policy have increased to the highest level since 1991 and the
highest rate since 1987."

Benecke and Osburn concluded, "You are no doubt aware that the Secretary of
Defense has established a panel to review the ongoing abuses of 'Don't Ask,
Don't Tell, Don't Pursue.'  We are concerned that your comments send the
wrong message to the panel, encouraging its members to turn a blind eye to
command abuses.  At the very least, your comments raise serious concerns
about whether the Administration intends to conduct a good faith review of
the implementation of this policy."


****CONTACT****
1.  Mike McCurry, White House Press Secretary.  It is crucial that calls &
faxes go directly to Mr. McCurry's office.  His voice phone is (202) 456-2673
and fax is (202) 456-6423.

2.  The President and Vice-President.  They can be emailed at
president@whitehouse.gov and vice.president@whitehouse.gov, respectively.


****Message****

This message can be cut and pasted into fax/email messages to Mr. McCurry as
well as to the President and Vice-President.  Please feel free to send your
own personal messages or add your concerns and observations to this message.

I am gravely concerned that the White House Press Secretary denies the
ongoing violations of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" that have allowed
military commanders to continue asking, pursuing, harassing and witch hunting
troops suspected of being gay.  Mr. McCurry's comments send the wrong message
to the DoD panel currently reviewing implementation of the policy and
encourage them to turn a blind eye to command abuses.  The increased number
of discharges under the gay policy and its brutal use to retaliate against
women who report sexual harassment effect on women are but the most obvious
indications that the military is not obeying its own rules.  This is clearly
not the humane policy stopping affirmative efforts to seek out gay troops and
providing a zone of privacy that the President promised at the outset of his
Administration.  I request that you clarify to Secretary of Defense Cohen
that you expect him to conduct a thorough and objective review of the
implementation of this policy.  The Pentagon review panel must know that the
White House takes abuses of the policy seriously and is committed to ending
the abuses.


****followup***
As always, please "cc" SLDN [email:  sldn@sldn.org, fax: (202) 797-1635,
snail:  P.O. Box 53013, Washington, DC  20009] and send us copies of any
responses you receive.  Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of
those we serve.  The progress we see could not happen without your support.
 For more information, please contact Julia Adams here at (202) 328-3244.