Giannoulias Calls for Immediate Repeal of DADT, Launches EqualityCantWait.com

Press Release

At a gathering of elected and community leaders at the Center on Halsted today, Illinois Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Senate Alexi Giannoulias joined his campaign's LGBT steering committee and launched a petition to put pressure on Congress to immediately repeal the military's discriminatory enlistment and employment policy, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). The petition can be signed at a new website called http://www.equalitycantwait.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1797.

"Ten years from now, we will look back in amazement that we denied full and equal rights for LGBT Americans," Giannoulias said. "I look at the issue of LGBT equality as one of basic fairness. I was raised to believe that all people are equal, and that we should judge one another by our actions and ideas - not by our race, our religion or our sexual orientation."

Prominent leaders in the Illinois LGBT community - including State Representative Deb Mell, and two U.S. servicemen discharged for being in violation of the DADT policy - talked with Giannoulias at the event today.

"I appreciate Alexi's leadership and willingness to be so vocal during this campaign on the issue of equality," former Marine Marquell Smith said. "Though we have made progress, real change will require sending leaders like Alexi Giannoulias who have the determination and courage to finish this fight in Washington."

Giannoulias' opponent, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, opposes marriage equality and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. He has said that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy "has worked out well" and that "keeping that all out of the workplace makes common sense."

"I have one question for Congressman Kirk: Why must I hide my identity, why must I be made to feel shame about who I am, in order to serve my country?" said Smith. "Congressman Kirk's position on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is unconscionable."

In addition to calling for the immediate repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Giannoulias highlighted his equality agenda, which calls for the rights of all Americans to be protected. His position paper can be viewed here.

"I know what's in Alexi's heart because I have seen him fight for equal rights for the past four years," said Representative Deb Mell. "In his first year as State Treasurer, he offered domestic partner health benefits to employees who had been denied that basic right by the previous administration, and he was the first statewide official to openly support gay marriage. I have no doubt that he will lead the fight in Washington, DC for equality: for marriage equality, for an end to DOMA, for employment non-discrimination, and for immigration reform that treats same-sex couples fairly."

Source