Russ Feingold: “It is high time that we stop this policy of codified discrimination against our brave servicemen and women who happen to…”

“It is high time that we stop this policy of codified discrimination against our brave servicemen and women who happen to be gay. I fear that this policy may have been a contributing factor in the June 5, 1999, brutal murder of PVT Barry Winchell at Fort Campbell, KY, a base commanded by General Clark. I will not reiterate the facts of that case at this time, but I will say that there are strong indications that there was a pervasive and hostile anti-gay climate at Fort Campbell both before and after the tragic murder of Private Winchell and that the base leadership, including General Clark, appears to have done little, if anything, to address it. Mr. President, the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy has failed. It failed to give Private Winchell useful options to combat the harassment he faced during the months prior to his murder. It failed to force General Clark to take effective action to eliminate the anti-gay climate at Fort Campbell. And it continues to fail to stop the discrimination and harassment faced by our brave gay servicemembers.”