Alva testifying today at the House Committee hearing Credit: C-Span

The controversial 15-year-old Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy is up for review for the first time in Congress since its inception in 1993.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-California sponsored a bill to repeal DADT, and the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee is considering it. San Antonio native and former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva (the first American wounded in the war on Iraq) testified on behalf of Tauscher’s bill.

Over 12,500 service members have been discharged since 1993.

This article appears in July 18 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US