My Speech AGainst Don't ASk Don't Tell

I want to thank you all for coming out today, my name is Ryan Olson and we are here representing a organization known as Soulforce , a group that follows the life and teachings of both Gandhi and King in non-violent demonstration in order to end institutional and religiously based discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We are here today to support our troops. There is a fundamental belief that we share with the rest of America when we say that we believe our troops to be brave, honorable and courageous young women and men. I dont think any one would disagree that to be in the armed forces takes integrity, honesty, and above all a sense of duty to ones country. I personally have had the honor and privilege of knowing such people, women and men whom I have considered some of my closest friends. In fact one of my roommates in college has been honored with some of the highest awards possible for his time in the ROTC program at our school. He and I and all of our friends would go to movies together, football games, and on school nights talk about the great depths of life. Through him I also was able to meet several other ROTC members, where I was honored to truly see the spirit of comrodery and discipline the army instills in its service members. I am proud to call these men and women my friends and can honestly say that my experience with them has deepened my appreciation for the great sacrifices they are willing to make so that we average civilians can live in the peace and harmony that we do. Being their friend has shown me what great men and women we have in uniform.It is a uniform that represents so much and in my extensive conversations with these friends, I have often wondered how strange it seemed that there was still a ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers, and how because I am not willing to lie or cover up who it is I really am, I am denied access to one of the top employers in our nation, the United States Armed Forces.I would look at my friends, and then look at myself and I saw no difference. I am someone who has been recognized by the Spokane community for my outstanding athletic achievements. I have received numerous awards and accolades for my efforts to provide services to the less fortunate. I was a student leader in both my high school and now where I go to college, one of the top universities in all of America. I am fit and I am willing to answer the call to duty should they take me.Unfortunately, at a time when we need soldiers more than ever, I and countless others would be turned away from the armed forces because of a policy known as Dont Ask, Dont Tell which bars any out gay or lesbian soldiers from serving. It is a policy that in its 13 years of existence has ended the careers of over 11,000 service members, including those of high ranking officials and highly trained specialists, particularly in the area of linguistics which given our current conditions in the middle east, are highly valued. They would rather lose these valuable men and women then serve with someone who is gay or lesbian. There are an estimated 63,000 gay and lesbian soldiers currently serving in the armed forces according to a report by the 2004 Urban Institute. There are another 1,000,000 veterans who self identify as gay or lesbian, brave people who were forced to serve their country in silence. Ironically, our troops already serve with out gay and lesbian soldiers from 23 allied countries that do not have bans on service. And in these countries there have been no reports of any problems relating to sexual orientation whatsoever. But this is not important, if there were only one gay soldier, one person who was being discriminated against because of the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy we would still be here today. So on this day we participate in soul forces right to serve campaign which is taking place in 33 cities across the nation. What the right to serve campaign hopes to accomplish is to end the Dont Ask Dont Tell Policy by encouraging our state and federal legislatures to adopt the Military Readiness Enhancement Act which would do away with Dont Ask dont Tell and add sexual orientation to the armed services non-discrimination policy. We plan to accomplish this by attempting to enlist in the armed services as openly gay and lesbian people, and when we are denied, our friends will join us to hold a peaceful sit in that will take place until we hear from our state legislators with their commitment to the end of Dont Ask Dont Tell. We call upon Maria Cantwell, Governor Gregiore, Brian Baird, Norman Dicks, Doc Hastings, Rick Larsen, David Reichert, and any member of the federal and state legislators to Sign the Military Enhancement Act and to End the Dont Ask dont Tell Policy today. Let no brave and courageous soldier be turned away For what its worth, I just want to say that we are here against a institutional policy that allows hate and discrimination to exist in our armed forces. We are not here to humiliate or disrespect the fine women and men behind the doors of this recruitment center or those already serving in the military. If anything we hold them in the highest regard and hope that they will see why we are here today. Am I brave? No, I am simply asking for the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, including the privilege to serve honestly along side my friends for the country that I love. I want to leave you with an image that I have conjured up in my head for many months now. It is a famous image, one in times square of a young man coming home from war and embracing a young woman in a backward fall and expressing his affection for her. I wonder about the moments that led up to that encounter and what it must be like for a young gay soldier in todays world to come home from three years away at war, to run to that person that got him through, yearning just to hold him, to kiss him, to love him when he suddenly has to stop. Because simply to say I love you, in that certain way, could mean the end of his career, his livelihood and all that he has ever worked for. So to the brave, honorable and courageous young men and women who would give up their lives for this country so that we may be free, whether you are gay or you are straight, we support you. We respect you, and we honor you. Hopefully one day, all troops will be able to serve openly and honestly without fear or degradation for simply being who they are.