DADT Hearing Tomorrow

Fifteen years after it was enacted, tomorrow the House Military Personnel Subcommittee will meet to discuss repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Among those scheduled to testify are U.S. Army Major General Vance Coleman (Ret.), U.S. Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah (Ret.), and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva. “This hearing begins a conversation about the national security impact of losing qualified, capable service members,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). “We commend Congresswoman Susan Davis (D), Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, for her leadership in reviewing this obsolete law.” Davis has introduced legislation to repeal the ban.

Gen. Coleman, who served as a Division Commander, sits on the SLDN Military Advisory Council. His decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal. Capt. Darrah’s assignments included serving as Deputy Director of the Human Resources Directorate at the Office of Naval Intelligence. A graduate of the Naval War College, she also belongs to the SLDN Military Advisory Council.

Sergeant Alva was the first American wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in the Marine Corps for 13 years. An ABC News/Washington Post poll released on the weekend shows that 75 percent of Americans believe LGBT people should be allowed to serve.

About 700 servicemembers are discharged every year under DADT.