Gays and Lesbians in the Military

Jul 23, 2008

House Committee Armed Services House Committee Armed Services | Military Personnel

Witnesses testified about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibiting openly gay and lesbian service members. They focused on proposals to end the policy, previous decisions to integrate blacks and allow expanded service by women, the relationship between personal conduct and unit cohesion, and ways foreign militaries had .. Read More
Witnesses testified about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibiting openly gay and lesbian service members. They focused on proposals to end the policy, previous decisions to integrate blacks and allow expanded service by women, the relationship between personal conduct and unit cohesion, and ways foreign militaries had successfully incorporated gay and lesbian service members. Captain Darrah and Staff Sergeant Alva also spoke about their experiences and the burdens placed on service members forced to keep their sexual orientation secret while serving in the military.

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TRANSCRIPT

TIME SPEAKER TEXT
00:23:04 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. SERGEANT ALVA? I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY IS REALLY KEEPING TO THE TIME.
00:23:15 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERIC ALVA. I WAS A STAFF SERGEANT IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. I...
00:28:29 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I'M SORRY, BUT COULD YOU FINISH YOUR REMARKS VERY QUICKLY.
00:28:32 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES, MA'AM.
00:28:33 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT DON'T ASK DON'T TELL DOES ANYTHING BUT UNDERCUT THE TRUSTS AND OUR NATION'S...
00:28:42 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MISS DONNELLY? BE SURE YOUR MICROPHONE IS ON.
00:28:51 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M ELAINE DONNELLY. I FOUNDED THE CENTER FOR MILITARY READINESS IN 1993. IN THAT YEAR, BILL CLINTON...
00:38:38 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
00:38:41 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY. I'M A RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR, U.S. ARMY. I'M A RANGER...
00:43:29 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I THINK BEFORE WE START, WE ALL WANT...
00:44:42 Jones, BrianSergeant Major NO, MA'AM. A LOT OF THE PROBLEM YOU SEE IN THE UNIT COHESION QUESTION, REGARDING TURNING THEIR BACKS...
00:45:48 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative LET ME ASK YOU, IF YOU HAD A VERY CAPABLE PERSON IN A POSITION, BE IT A MEDIC, WHOEVER THAT MIGHT...
00:46:11 Jones, BrianSergeant Major MY FIRST DUTY IN RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS NATION, I PUT THE UTMOST ABOVE EVERYTHING IS OBEY THE LAWS...
00:46:58 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT PART? WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO?
00:47:03 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant BEING COHESIVE IS THE BIGGEST PART OF THE MILITARY. YOU HAVE PRIORITY GOALS OF EACH UNIT, WHETHER...
00:48:45 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU.
00:48:47 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I THINK, FRANKLY, IT'S MUCH MORE DISRUPTIVE TO UNIT COHESION AND MAR-MORALE WHEN YOU HAVE A HIGH CHARGING...
00:49:06 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. McCUE.
00:49:10 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO MADAM CHAIR AND ALL OF YOU IN THE BEGINNING, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING...
00:50:00 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative '47. SO YOU WERE ONE YEAR BEFORE THE SEGREGATION OF YOUR UNIT, PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF INTEGRATION...
00:50:10 Coleman, VanceMajor General YES, SIR.
00:50:12 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative YOU WERE IMMEDIATELY ASSIGNED TO AUCBV SEGREGATED UNIT?
00:50:18 Coleman, VanceMajor General I'M SORRY?
00:50:19 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative YOU WERE IMMEDIATELY SIGNED TO A SEGREGATED UNIT?
00:50:22 Coleman, VanceMajor General YES, SIR.
00:50:24 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative I BELIEVE I HEARD USAIN THE KOREAN CONFLICT, YOU WERE AGAIN ASSIGNED TO A SEGREGATED UNIT.
00:50:42 Coleman, VanceMajor General 1951, I COMPLETED OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA AND REASSIGNED TO A NATIONAL GUARD UNIT FROM...
00:51:01 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative I SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR. I'M NOT DISBELIEVING YOU. I'M CURIOUS, AS TO WHAT THE PROCESS WAS IN '48 ONWARD...
00:51:24 Coleman, VanceMajor General I WAS REASSIGNED TO A DESEGREGATED UNIT ONCE I REPORTED FOR DUTY.r THAT WAS 1951 AND AFTER PRESIDENT...
00:52:02 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative I BELIEVE WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WOULD TEACH, THIS IS CRUX OF MY QUESTION, REGARDLESS OF DESEGREGATION...
00:52:17 Coleman, VanceMajor General I --
00:52:20 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative BECAUSE IN YOUR CASE, IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. I THINK WE COULD FIND AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN 2008...
00:52:32 Coleman, VanceMajor General NO. I THINK THEY'RE ALL INTEGRATED IN 2008.
00:52:35 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative I MEAN FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, NOT BY NUMBERS.
00:52:38 Coleman, VanceMajor General I WOULD SAY THAT. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT A PROGRAM, I -- NO, I DON'T THINK A PROGRAM IS...
00:53:01 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative WAS THINKING MORE ALONG THOSE OTHERS ASSIGNED TO UNITS RATHER THAN COMMAND. I ASSUME IF A COMMAND IS...
00:53:34 Darrah, Joan E.Captain YES, SIR.
00:53:35 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative IF YOU WERE, WOULD YOU HAVE STILL JOINED? I KNOW THAT'S A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION BUT WHAT DO YOU FEEL?...
00:53:43 Darrah, Joan E.Captain IF I WERE 19 OR 21 NOW, TODAY, I WOULD NOT JOIN.
00:53:46 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative YOU WOULD NOT JOIN?
00:53:49 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I WOULD NOT.
00:53:50 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative SERGEANT ALBA, YOU WERE OF THE REALIZATION WHEN YOU JOINED THAT YOU WERE GAY?
00:53:54 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES.
00:53:56 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative AND YOU DID JOIN?
00:53:57 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES, SIR.
00:53:58 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative HELP ME UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTIVATION, WHAT YOU THOUGHT, WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WERE.
00:54:04 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant IN 1989, AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, AS A 5'1 INDIVIDUAL, WEIGHING 90 POUNDS, IT TURNED INTO MORE...
00:54:39 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative YOU WERE AWARE OF DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL AT THE TIME?
00:54:41 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant NOT AT THE TIME. IT WASN'T UNTIL 1993. IT WAS 1991 WHEN I JOINED.
00:54:47 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative YOU JOINED IN 1991, I APOLOGIZE. WOULD YOU HAVE JOINED IN '91, HAD IT BEEN THE POLICY IN '91?
00:54:54 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES, SIR.
00:54:56 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. DR. STEINER?
00:55:00 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE YOU. SERGEANT MAJOR JONES, I WAS READING YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND IT,...
00:55:18 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THAT'S CORRECT.
00:55:19 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative AFTER THIS HEARING, YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH MISS DON ELLIE BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN LEADING...
00:55:37 Donnelly, ElainePresident CAPTAIN JONES IS A FRIEND OF MINE. I SUPPORT HER.
00:55:40 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative THANK YOU MISS DONNELLY. IT'S MY TIME HERE. I WANTED TO ASK ON THIS ISSUE OF UNIT COHESION, WHAT CONCERNS...
00:58:38 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I WANT TO QUALIFY MY COMMENT TO REPRESENTATIVE McHUGH, I WOULDN'T JOIN BECAUSE I SPENT MOST OF MY...
00:59:06 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative YOU COULD SLIP UP?
00:59:07 Darrah, Joan E.Captain ABSOLUTELY.
00:59:08 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative OR YOU COULD SAY --
00:59:09 Darrah, Joan E.Captain YES, SIR.
00:59:10 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative I DON'T KNOW YOUR PARTNER'S NAME. LESLIE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME AT
00:59:14 Darrah, Joan E.Captain YEAH. MY PARTNER IS ACTUALLY LYNN KENNEDY SITTING BEHIND ME, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FORMER EMPLOYEE....
00:59:47 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative MY EXPERIENCE IS PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF THE MILITARY, WHEN THEY THINK OF THAT TIME, AS YOU HAVE TODAY,...
01:00:07 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. JONES.
01:00:08 Jones, BrianSergeant Major MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES, WHO, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS...
01:00:40 Donnelly, ElainePresident VERY FEW. BRITAIN ACCEPTED A EUROPEAN COURT ORDER. THEY'RE WELL NOW INTO PROGRESSING TO ACCEPTING...
01:03:18 Jones, BrianSergeant Major COULD I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? ANSWERING A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, SOMETHING THAT BOTHERS ME, I HEARD...
01:05:30 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MR. JONES, YOUR TIME IS UP. MR. MURPHY?
01:05:34 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I SAY THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR YOU AND YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. I'M PATRICK MURPHY,...
01:06:38 Donnelly, ElainePresident I RESPECT ALL OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY, BY THE WAY, DR. SNYDER.
01:06:44 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative IT'S ACTUALLY PATRICK MURPHY.
01:06:48 Donnelly, ElainePresident NO, I HAD TO ASK THE OTHER QUESTION OF THE ONE THAT PUT IT TO ME DIRECTLY. I RESPECT ALL THE PEOPLE...
01:07:13 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS, YOU'RE SAYING YOU DO NOT TRUST OUR MILITARY PROFESSIONALS...
01:07:35 Donnelly, ElainePresident YOU SAID PROFESSIONAL. PROFESSIONAL DOESN'T MEAN AUTOMATED, DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE AREN'T HUMAN, PEOPLE...
01:07:53 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative THAT'S WHY THERE'S THE UCMJ AND ARMY REGULATIONS AND MARINE CORPS REGULATIONS BECAUSE -- HOLD ON....
01:08:28 Donnelly, ElainePresident WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CYNTHIA YOST, THE WOMAN ON A TRAINING EXERCISE ASSAULTED BY A GROUP OF LESBIANS?...
01:08:35 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative I WOULD SAY TO EVERY SINGLE MAN OR WOMEN WHO SERVES IN THE MILITARY, YOU GO TO YOUR SUPERIOR OFFICER...
01:08:49 Donnelly, ElainePresident THEY WOULD BE COMPLAINING OF WHAT THEY WERE ACCUSED OF.
01:08:52 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative YOU LOST YOUR LEG IN SERVICE TO IRAQ AND I THANK YOU.
01:08:55 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant THANK YOU.
01:08:56 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative DO YOU NOT THINK A MARINE CANNOT ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY, IF ASKED TO BY THEIR NATION?
01:09:01 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES, SIR. THERE WAS TWO FELLOW MARINES IN MY CONVOY THAT DAY ON MARCH 21st. LOSING MY LEG WAS AN...
01:09:37 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative GENERAL COLEMAN, A TWO STAR GENERAL AND GOT THE PURPLE HEART IN KOREA WHEN YOU JOINED OUR MILITARY....
01:10:08 Coleman, VanceMajor General YES, SIR. UNIT COHESION IS A LEADERSHIP ISSUE. IT STARTS FROM THE VERY LOWEST UNIT, THE LOWEST LEVEL...
01:10:38 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. MURPHY, I'M SORRY, MR. MURPHY'S TIME IS UP. I'M GOING TO GO IN THE NUMBERS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAME...
01:10:47 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING A MILITARY SPOUSE, IN THOSE DAYS WE CALLED THEM...
01:11:19 Donnelly, ElainePresident I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF YOUR QUESTION EXCEPT TO SAY THIS. SEXUALITY IS IMPORTANT.
01:11:23 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative LET ME ASK YOU, WAS THAT A CHOICE?
01:11:26 Donnelly, ElainePresident THE ARGUMENT --
01:11:27 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative I'M REALLY NOT LOOKING FOR THE LONG TALK, I WANT TO KNOW, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A CHOICE OR DO YOU THINK...
01:11:35 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON WHY --
01:11:37 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE YOU WOULD ANSWER IT DIFFERENTLY. I RESPECT THAT. THE POINT I'M MAKING IS...
01:12:19 Donnelly, ElainePresident MAY I COMMENT?
01:12:20 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative ACTUALLY, NOT YET. I'LL GIVE YOU A MOMENT. I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU AWARE THE ARMY IS ALLOWING...
01:12:30 Donnelly, ElainePresident I THINK IT'S WRONG. I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CAN DO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE DOING....
01:12:39 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative YOU BLAME IT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
01:12:41 Donnelly, ElainePresident IT IS A PROBLEM AND YOU DON'T SOLVE IT BY REPEALING THE LAW AND SAYING HOMOSEXUALS WILL BE IN THE...
01:12:46 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative MISS DONNELLY, I'M NOT SURE WHY THESE GOOD PEOPLE ARE YOUR TARGET, FRANKLY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT....
01:13:12 Darrah, Joan E.Captain TREMENDOUS TALENT. EVERYDAY, I SPEAK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE -- WOULD THINK ABOUT JOINING THE MILITARY....
01:13:42 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative IT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE RECRUITING, TO WALK AWAY FROM PEOPLE WITH A GENUINE...
01:14:29 Donnelly, ElainePresident SORRY. MAY I TAKE THAT ONE QUESTION, CHAIRMAN?
01:14:33 Darrah, Joan E.Captain FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. I CERTAINLY HOPE IT'S NOT 15 MORE YEARS. I WANTED TO COMMENT AGAIN....
01:15:16 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, GENERAL COLEMAN FOR BEING HERE AS WELL TO SPEAK UP FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT...
01:15:26 Coleman, VanceMajor General DO YOU STILL HAVE TIME?
01:15:27 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative WE HAVE A YELLOW. SHE HAS ABOUT TWO SECONDS LEFT. DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT QUICKLY?
01:15:34 Coleman, VanceMajor General YES. I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THINKING BACK TO 1948, WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE ARMY,...
01:16:07 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative THANK YOU.
01:16:09 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. KLEIN.
01:16:10 Kline, JohnU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND ALL THE PANELISTS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND DISTINGUISHED...
01:16:21 Kline, JohnU.S. Representative YOU CAN TELL BY THE HEAT OF THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE. I APPRECIATE YOUR...
01:17:15 Jones, BrianSergeant Major REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE?
01:17:17 Kline, JohnU.S. Representative YES. THE QUESTION IS THERE ARE COUNTRIES WHO OPENED UP THEIR POLICIES AND ALLOWED HOMOSEXUALS TO...
01:17:32 Jones, BrianSergeant Major RIGHT. I WASN'T ABLE TO FINISH MY ANSWER. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE,...
01:20:56 Kline, JohnU.S. Representative THANK YOU SO MUCH, SERGEANT MAJOR. MADAM CHAIR, I SEE THE LIGHT'S GETTING READY TO GO RED SO I'LL...
01:21:04 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU.
01:21:06 Tsongas, Nicola "Niki" S.U.S. Representative THANK YOU, CHAIR WOMAN DAVID, FOR HOLDING THIS LONG OVERDUE HEARING AN THANK YOU TO OUR WITNESSES...
01:22:05 Darrah, Joan E.Captain YEM. THAT'S WHY I LIVED BASICALLY TWO LIVES. MY CONDUCT WAS EXEMPLARY, MY PERFORMANCE WAS SUFFICIENT...
01:22:23 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN. I AGREE WITH CAPTAIN DARRAH, THE SAME. IN 13 YEARS OF SERVICE, MY ORIENTATION...
01:23:39 Tsongas, Nicola "Niki" S.U.S. Representative YET THIS IS ALSO A POLICY IN WHICH CONDUCT IS VERY BROADLY DEFINED. MERELY DECLARING YOUR SEXUAL ...
01:24:17 Donnelly, ElainePresident THE STATEMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS NOT ACCURATE. THE LAW STATES I QUOTE, THE PROHIBITION...
01:26:18 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. MISS SAUNDERS' TIME IS UP.
01:26:23 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR WOMAN, FOR CALLING THIS HEARING. SERGEANT MAJOR JONES, JUST WANTED...
01:26:40 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
01:26:41 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative KEEPING OUR COUNTRY SAFE IS OUR NUMBER ONE -- CLEARLY, THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS THIS...
01:27:22 Jones, BrianSergeant Major NO, MA'AM, NOT AT ALL. IN FACT, I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND I KNOW HE'S VERY...
01:27:38 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative I WOULD JUST CAUTION YOU IN THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED IF YOU SAID, NO, I...
01:28:04 Jones, BrianSergeant Major NO.
01:28:05 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO IMPLY.
01:28:07 Jones, BrianSergeant Major WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN BY THAT?
01:28:11 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES. IF WE HAVE MORE TIME, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. AGAIN,...
01:29:06 Donnelly, ElainePresident I WASN'T BORN THEN BUT I DO KNOW -- I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL. I REMEMBER WHEN FRIENDS OF MINE WERE...
01:29:42 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative WE'RE PROUD OF THEM.
01:29:43 Donnelly, ElainePresident WHEN YOU MAKE IT A SEXUAL ISSUE.
01:29:45 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative RECLAIMING MY TIME.
01:29:46 Donnelly, ElainePresident PARDON?
01:29:47 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative RECLAIMING MY TIME. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE -- QUITE HONESTLY, MANY OF THE SAME ARGUMENTS WERE PUT FORTH...
01:30:25 Donnelly, ElainePresident THEY WERE JUST WRONG. PREJUDICE IS WRONG. FEELINGS ABOUT SEXUALITY IS DIFFERENT.
01:30:29 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative THEY WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT PREJUDICE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT UNIT COHESION. THEY WEREN'T MAKING A...
01:30:39 Donnelly, ElainePresident YES.
01:30:41 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative HOW WOULD YOU HAVE SAID --
01:30:43 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE -- DO YOU THINK THEIR ARGUMENTS ABOUT UNIT COHESION ARE VALID OR NOT VALID?...
01:30:52 Donnelly, ElainePresident PREJUDICE IS WRONG. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT RACIAL PREJUDICE.
01:30:56 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative I'M NOT ASKING YOU ABOUT THAT --
01:30:57 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative I'M SAYING --
01:31:02 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative RECLAIMING MY TIME JUST A MOMENT. THE WHOLE ARGUMENT ON COHESION, I'M ASKING YOU TO ANSWER THE QUESTION...
01:31:29 Donnelly, ElainePresident PREJUDICE IS BAD FOR UNIT COHESION. YOU DO THINGS FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE MILITARY. WHAT WE'RE...
01:31:40 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative YOU DIDN'T --
01:31:41 Donnelly, ElainePresident I WANT TO --
01:31:43 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING THEN IS IT DID NOT AFFECT UNIT COHESION ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE SAID THAT.
01:31:48 Donnelly, ElainePresident I ALREADY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
01:31:52 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I WILL MOVE ON. FRS
01:31:59 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING AND THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SERVED...
01:34:11 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative GENERAL COLEMAN, MISS DONNELLY REFERS TO THE PASSIVE OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL...
01:34:48 Coleman, VanceMajor General THEY HAVE A POLICY WHETHER STRAIGHT OR GAY. IT IS AN EXERCISE OF LEADERSHIP. AND LEADERSHIP DOES THAT...
01:35:51 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative THANK YOU. I HEARD A LOT IN THIS TESTIMONY TODAY THAT HAS SHOCKED ME AND SURPRISED ME INCLUDING LOTS...
01:36:27 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU, I DISAGREE WITH DON'T ASK DON'T TELL ALSO.
01:36:33 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative YOU DISAGREE WITH IT IN A VERY NARROW WAY. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE,...
01:37:28 Donnelly, ElainePresident ACTUALLY, I'M NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE IN THE MILITARY BECAUSE I DON'T MEET ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS OF THE...
01:37:35 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative EXCUSE ME, MISS TAUSCHER, YOUR TIME IS UP. WE CAN COME BACK HOPEFULLY IN ANOTHER ROUND.
01:37:42 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. SHEA?
01:37:44 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE...
01:40:46 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT POLICY.
01:40:50 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative ANSWER MY QUESTION, PLEASE. YOU'RE A WITNESS BEFORE US.
01:40:54 Donnelly, ElainePresident THE SERVICE OF CAPTAIN DARRAH, COLEMAN AND ALVA, EVERYONE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
01:41:03 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative HOW DO YOU RESPECT THEIR SERVICE? YOU WANT THEM OUT?
01:41:07 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M HERE FOR SOUND POLICY.
01:41:09 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative CAN YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION? MY QUESTION IS THIS.
01:41:12 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M TRYING TO ANSWER YOU.
01:41:13 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative LET ME MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT MY QUESTION IS. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? LET...
01:41:34 Donnelly, ElainePresident MR. SHEA, IN THE MILITARY, WE DON'T MAKE POLICY ON INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE...
01:41:55 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING SOMETHING
01:41:57 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative I'M ANSWERING. ? NO. I WANT MY TIME BACK AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH YOU. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SHE...
01:42:17 Donnelly, ElainePresident YOU'RE SAYING THAT CYNTHIA YOST, WHO WROTE A LETTER TO THIS COMMITTEE, IF SHE IS ASSAULTED BY A GROUP...
01:42:25 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative THEN THE LESBIANS SHOULD BE LET OUT. THE LESBIAN SHOULD BE LET OUT. THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN. THEY...
01:42:47 Donnelly, ElainePresident YOU JUST MADE MY POINT. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THREE TIMES AS MANY INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
01:42:53 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative WE DON'T HAVE THREE TIMES AS
01:42:54 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative THREE TIMES AS MUCH --
01:42:57 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative I DON'T KNOW OF ANY MISCONDUCT OF MISS DARRAH. DO YOU HAVE ANY --
01:43:02 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. SHAYS, YOUR TIME IS UP. I WILL MOVE.
01:43:07 Donnelly, ElainePresident THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
01:43:12 Sestak, Joseph "Joe" A. Jr.U.S. Representative THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY -- I COULDN'T ASK IT BETTER THAN YOU DID, SIR, SO I JUST HAVE...
01:46:51 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. WE WILL GO ON TO ANOTHER ROUND, IF -- MR. GINGRED, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION?
01:47:01 Gingrey, PhilU.S. Representative MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
01:47:03 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL START AGAIN. WE'LL TRY AND GET AROUND. I DON'T...
01:48:53 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I WOULD SAY, AT THE MOMENT, THE SITUATION YOU HAVE FOR A GAY PERSON, IF THEY'RE HAPPENED TO BE HARASSED,...
01:49:28 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative YES.
01:49:29 Coleman, VanceMajor General I DON'T HAVE -- I WAS THINKING, THAT PRIOR TO 1993, WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GAYS IN THE MILITARY....
01:50:39 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative SERGEANT MAJOR JONES, ARE YOU SUGGESTING PERHAPS PEOPLE WOULD BE ASKING FOR POLICIES THAT WOULD PROTECT...
01:50:56 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A VERY HONEST ANSWER. I'M GOING TO BASE IT ON THE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD AS LEADERSHIP,...
01:52:06 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED, IF YOU BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE NOT UP TO THAT TASK?
01:52:13 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YES, THEY ARE.
01:52:14 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE SERVICE IS NOT SUCH THAT --
01:52:20 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YES, THEY ARE UP TO THE TASK. THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SOLDIER CAN COMPLETE ANY TASK ASSIGNED TO THEM...
01:52:59 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
01:53:05 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. McHUGH.
01:53:07 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative MADAM CHAIR, I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. I THINK, AFTER HAVING SAT HERE FOR SOME TWO HOURS,...
01:54:15 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I SAID IN MY STATEMENT, IT'S HARD FOR ME WHEN I SEE YOUNG ENERGETIC, PATRIOTIC GAY KIDS, I WANT TO...
01:54:28 McHugh, John M.U.S. Representative I UNDERSTAND. AS I SAID FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE NET EFFECT OF IT....
01:57:15 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MR. McHUGH.
01:57:16 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative THANK YOU. CAPTAIN DARRAH, YOU INTRODUCED YOUR PARTNER, I'M SORRY, I OVERTALKED. WHAT WAS HER NAME...
01:57:25 Darrah, Joan E.Captain LYNN KENNEDY.
01:57:27 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative HOW LONG HAVE Y'ALL BEEN TOGETHER? YOU SAID IN YOUR STATEMENTS?
01:57:31 Darrah, Joan E.Captain NOW, 17 1/2 YEARS.
01:57:32 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative DOES MISS KENNEDY HAVE ANYTHING SHE'D LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THOSE STRESSES, WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR HER?...
01:57:38 Darrah, Joan E.Captain BASED ON THE PAST TWO DAY, SHE MIGHT HAVE LIKED IT BETTER WHEN SHE WAS NOT PART OF MY LIFE.
01:57:46 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative I'LL TAKE THAT AS, NO, SHE WOULDN'T. MISS DONNELLY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, ONE OF THE -- I THINK THE...
01:59:51 Donnelly, ElainePresident NO. BECAUSE THE CIVILIAN WORLD, PEOPLE DON'T LIVE TOGETHER, THEY DON'T COHABIT TOGETHER.
01:59:57 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative YOU MISSED MY POINT, DIDN'T YOU, MISS DONNELLY? I JUST GAVE YOU THE SITUATION, SCENARIO OVERSEAS,...
02:00:13 Jones, BrianSergeant Major DO YOU MIND IF I COMMENT ON IT? BECAUSE I WAS A DOD CIVILIAN IN IRAQ IN 2004.
02:00:18 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative MISS DONNELLY IS THE ONE WHO MADE A PRETTY RECENT ARGUMENT.
02:00:22 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I HAD EXPERIENCE.
02:00:23 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER YOU CAN HAVE.
02:00:26 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. MY QUESTION IS, IS IT YOUR RECOMMENDATION, SERGEANT MAJOR JONES, THAT ALL CIVILIAN,...
02:00:41 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE
02:00:43 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative I DO, TOO. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE, THEN, WITH MISS DONNELLY'S ARGUMENT, IS IT IS OKAY, FORCED COHABITATION...
02:00:57 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU MY TAKE ON THAT, SIR, AS I STATED, I DID SERVE OVER THERE IN 2004...
02:01:17 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative YOU MISSED MY POINT. WHAT I SET THIS UP WITH, THEY CLEARLY DO. YOU MAY NOT HAVE, I'M NOT SAYING EVERY...
02:01:47 Donnelly, ElainePresident DR. --
02:01:49 Donnelly, ElainePresident I'M NOT AWARE THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE COHABITING WITH CONGRESSMAN FRANKS.
02:01:53 Snyder, VicU.S. Representative I'M NOT EITHER. WE'RE IN AGREEMENT. MISS DONNELLY, YOU FINALLY FOUND IT, AFTER TWO HOURS, WE HAVE...
02:02:10 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative MR. MURPHY.
02:02:12 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative THANKS, MISS CHAIR WOMAN. I WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT MISS TAUSCHER AND MR. SESTAK'S EARLIER REMARKS. ...
02:03:41 Donnelly, ElainePresident IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS TRANSLATED WE NEED THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE, TRAINING PEOPLE...
02:03:49 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative WE DID. THERE WAS 58 ACTUALLY TRAINED AND WERE THROWN OUT OF THE MILITARY.
02:03:54 Donnelly, ElainePresident WHO'S THE BEST LINGUIST, BY THE WAY, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD LINGUISTS, NOT NECESSARILY SHOULD...
02:04:02 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative LET'S BE STRAIGHT HERE. LET'S BE STRAIGHT. THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT...
02:04:38 Donnelly, ElainePresident WE NEED TO FIND THE LINGUISTS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY WORKING ON THAT. I COME FROM A COMMUNITY...
02:05:16 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THE ARMED SERVICES. WE WILL HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT...
02:06:07 Donnelly, ElainePresident CONGRESSMAN AS A DAUGHTER OF A SUBMARINER, DO YOU THINK THEY'D BE MORE WILLING TO JOIN A SUBMARINE...
02:06:18 Murphy, PatrickU.S. Representative YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION, I WILL ANSWER IT. USUALLY, IT COMES FROM THE OTHER SIDE. THE FACT IS I HAVE...
02:07:30 Shea-Porter, CarolU.S. Representative THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD BOTH MY PARENTS WERE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS...
02:10:03 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU.
02:10:05 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR WOMAN. I WOULD LIKE TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE REMARKS OF MR. McHUGH. I THINK...
02:10:56 Jones, BrianSergeant Major NO. I'M NOT SAYING THAT AT ALL. AS I'VE SAID, AS THE GOOD CONGRESSWOMAN POINTED OUT, YOU CAN'T HELP...
02:11:16 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative LET ME ASK A QUESTION AND MAYBE THIS IS HYPOTHETICAL. IF SOMEBODY -- IF WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO'S A FIRST...
02:11:51 Jones, BrianSergeant Major THE REASON I'M HERE AND WHAT I BELIEVE IS TRUE ACROSS THE ARMED FORCES IS IT COMES TO A QUESTION OF...
02:12:30 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative LET ME CLARIFY THEN. IF THIS WERE IN A DIFFERENT TIME, YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH GETTING RID OF DON'T...
02:12:37 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I CAN'T ANSWER TO THAT DIFFERENT TIME BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT I CAN SEE IS WHERE WE'RE...
02:13:09 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative IT SOUNDS AS IF WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING, THOUGH, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE -- NOT ABOUT THE POLICY,...
02:13:21 Jones, BrianSergeant Major NO. CHANGE IS GOOD. BUT YOU HAVE TO PICK THE RIGHT CHANGE FOR THE RIGHT TIME. I'VE SEEN IT AT TOO...
02:13:36 Boyda, NancyU.S. Representative I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY AGAIN, YOU'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS THAN THE ACTUAL POLICY...
02:14:00 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YOU'RE ASKING ME A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT I WILL FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. WE HEARD THAT THE...
02:15:29 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON. MISS TAUSCHER?
02:15:36 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative SERGEANT MAJOR JONES, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THIS TWO HOURS AND 20 MINUTES THAT WE'VE SPENT...
02:16:06 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YES.
02:16:08 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative WE'RE GOOD MULTITASKERS, WE CAN ACTUALLY DO MORE THAN ONE THING AT A TIME.
02:16:12 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I UNDERSTAND THAT.
02:16:13 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative AFTER 15 YEARS OF NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS, I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME TO HAVE...
02:16:19 Jones, BrianSergeant Major I DIDN'T MEAN TO COME ACROSS LIKE THAT.
02:16:24 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT HAVING THE MOST PERFECT UNION. WE HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL...
02:17:13 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YES.
02:17:14 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative A LITTLE OVERUSED NOW, NOT APPRECIATED AS MUCH AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO...
02:18:06 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative NOT SURPRISED. RACIAL INTEGRATION, AS GENERAL COLEMAN SAID, STARTED IN THE MILITARY. WE'RE NOT PERFECT...
02:19:27 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant YES.
02:19:29 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative DO YOU BELIEVE THE PRESENCE OF OPENLY GAY SOLDIERS WOULD HAVE COMPROMISED THAT MISSION IN SOMALIA?...
02:19:34 Alva, EricStaff Sergeant NO, NOT AT ALL. JUST AS IN IRAQ, I HAD CONFIDED IN SEVERAL MARINES IN MY PLATOON THAT I WAS GAY. ...
02:20:35 Tauscher, Ellen O.U.S. Representative DO YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, CAPTAIN DARRAH, TO CHARACTERIZE ANYBODY'S WORK ENVIRONMENT, AS SEXUALIZED?...
02:21:10 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I'M GOING TO TO LET -- MR. SHEA, IF YOU CAN, CAN THEY ANSWER THAT ON PART OF YOUR TIME?
02:21:17 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative I'D LIKE TO ASK MY QUESTION.
02:21:19 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative I'M BEING VERY STRICT, AS YOU CAN SEE BUT WE HAVE VOTES COMING UP BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HER ANSWER...
02:21:28 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative IF YOU WANT TO ASK HER. I HAVE TO PUT IT UNDER YOUR TIME.
02:21:34 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION. STILL WRESTLING WITH ANYONE ON THIS PANEL SAYING, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY...
02:22:34 Jones, BrianSergeant Major YES, SIR, I'M NOT DENYING THAT.
02:22:36 Shays, ChristopherU.S. Representative WE'RE HAVING THIS HEARING, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE, IF BY NOT ALLOWING GAYS TO SERVE, ARE...
02:24:39 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU, MR. SHAYS. IN FOLLOWING UP WITH THE LAST QUESTION, YOU HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES. I THINK...
02:24:56 Darrah, Joan E.Captain I MENTIONED WHEN I WAS THE DEPUTY AND CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE NAVAL INTELLIGENCE COMMAND I HAD ABOUT...
02:25:17 Davis, SusanU.S. Representative THANK YOU. WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE HEARING. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE, SINCERELY,...

NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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PEOPLE GRID LIST

  • Donnelly, Elaine
  • Jones, Brian
  • Alva, Eric
  • Shays, Christopher
  • Darrah, Joan E.
  • Coleman, Vance
  • Davis, Susan
  • McHugh, John M.
  • Snyder, Vic
  • Boyda, Nancy
  • Tauscher, Ellen O.
  • Murphy, Patrick
  • Shea-Porter, Carol
  • Kline, John
  • Sestak, Joseph "Joe" A. Jr.
  • Tsongas, Nicola "Niki" S.
  • Gingrey, Phil
  • Jones, Walter B. Jr.

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