Take Action
EDUCATE YOURSELFThe National Defense Authorization Act passed in the House, which includes the repeal of the discriminatory military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and is awaiting a vote by the Senate! The legislation would not only end discrimination in the armed forces and strengthen our national security by utilizing the talents of all who wish to serve, but it would also save the military and the taxpayers millions of dollars that could be put to better use. Read more and sign up to join the fight here.
HOST A SCREENING
Purchase a copy of ASK NOT to share with your community and bring this important national conversation into your living room. If you are affiliated with an LGBT organization, university, high school, public library, veteran's group etc., encourage them to visit our educational distributor, New Day Films, to buy a copy that comes with full public screening and classroom rights. Or if you want to gather a group of friends around your tv and host a party, you can visit our order page to purchase a home video copy of the film.
READ A BOOK
Nathaniel Frank’s new book Unfriendly Fire is the definitive story of “don’t ask, don’t tell” written by the nation’s most widely-recognized expert on the policy.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Join our Facebook group to stay up to date about issues surrounding "don't ask, don't tell" and to meet other people interested in the same. There are also many other fantastic organizations who are fighting against the policy, including Servicemembers United, SLDN, HRC, and PFLAG (see helpful links below). Volunteer, donate, and join their efforts, actions, mailing lists, and social networking groups. Help spread the word.
CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME
There is nothing more effective than talking to your friends and family. They are much more willing to listen to someone they know and respect. If you know people in the military, talk to them about “don’t ask, don’t tell” and serving alongside open gay servicemembers. If you are gay, consider coming out to those around you. Knowing that someone in one’s circle is gay can truly make a difference. Before coming out at work, see if your employer has a policy or your state has a law against sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination by visiting www.hrc.org/worknet.
EXERCISE DEMOCRACY
Write to your members of Congress (in the House and Senate), urging them to lift the ban. As long as you know your zip code, SLDN makes it easy to find out who to write to: www.sldn.org. Or use the U.S. government’s form.
HAVE AN OPINION
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspapers supporting the repeal of DADT. Click here for tips on getting your letter published.
ATTEND OR ORGANIZE EVENTS
Many organizations schedule times when representatives will come speak to large groups. Set a google alert so you will be informed when something is happening near you. Or join the list serve of one of the groups below to receive news updates and action alerts. Better yet, contact a group from the list below and organize an event in your community!
BE PREPARED
Check out PFLAG’s website for some useful talking points when broaching the topic of DADT, as well as Servicemember’s Legal Defense Network’s Journalist’s Guide to DADT or their Top 10 Reasons to Repeal DADT.
H E L P F U L L I N K S
The Michael D. Palm Center
a new research institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is committed to sponsoring state-of-the-art research to enhance the quality of public dialogue about critical and controversial issues and currently focuses on “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Servicemembers United
is the largest all-veteran organization dedicated to educating the American public about the ban on known gay men and women in the military.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
Soulforce
works toward freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.
American Veterans for Equal Rights
is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran servicemembers dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The DADT Database
contains primary materials on the U.S. military’s policy on sexual orientation from World War I to the present.
Gay Military Signal
is dedicated to providing a voice to the movement to achieve equality in America’s armed forces so that patriotic American volunteers may serve our nation openly and in pride regardless of sexual orientation.
HRC
is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG) a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters, celebrates diversity and envisions a society that embraces everyone.
Women’s E News
wrote an article explaining the additional discrimination experienced by women under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.