“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Legislation

I'm very excited about this. A friend of mine who works at the Service Members Defense Network send me this link about legislation being introduced that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the military.

I hope the legislation goes somewhere, especially with the support of past military leaders. Since I was feeling oh-so excited about the prospect of entering the military (something I've always wanted to do but couldn't since I'm gay), I wrote a letter to my Congressman asking him to support the legislation:

The Honorable Rob Bishop
324 25th St. Suite 1017
Ogden, UT 84401

Dear Representative Bishop,

I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Salt Lake County Lincoln Day Dinner last Friday. You did a fine job as the Master of Ceremonies and I enjoyed my time there.

I’m writing to you today to ask you to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that was recently introduced in the House of Representatives. You will definitely hear or have already heard the statistics associated with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy so I will not waste your time with those figures. I only want to tell you about me.

I am a senior at the University of Utah and will be graduating cum laude in May with a degree in Political Science. I am a healthy, intelligent, and patriotic American who has always wanted to serve my country since I was a child. My great-grandfather and grandfather are veterans of World War I and World War II, respectively.

Unfortunately, being gay disallows me to serve my country honorably and fulfill a duty my family has done for generations. It is possible that I could “hide” who I am, but my partner of two years would not be too happy about that. I only want to honorably serve my country, join my peers in fighting the war on terror, and be allowed to tell people about my partner when I am discussing family with other military personnel—without the threat of discharge.

It makes no sense to continue upholding a policy that keeps able-bodied Americans like me from serving. I pose no threat to military readiness or unit cohesiveness—I just want to protect the freedom that I am currently unable to enjoy.

Congressman, I am not asking for you to support gay marriage, gay adoption, or other issues of the like. While I may disagree, I can understand your opposition to those issues. However, the issue of letting one of your eager constituents to serve his country in the armed forces is different.

Please support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

Sincerely,

Jesse Michael Nix

I will join the military if they repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. It's been a dream, an unatainable dream, that I've been forced to discount for many years. For the first time, I may be able to serve my country.