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Resolution: opposition to the U.S. military's policy of dismissing linguists, translators, interpreters, or other members of the armed forces on the basis of their sexual orientation
Drafted by Gregory Ward
3 January 2003: Approved by members attending the 77th Annual Business Meeting, Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta, Georgia
1 July 2003: Adopted by LSA membership in a mail ballot
Whereas linguists, translators, and interpreters serving at the Defense Language Institute have made important contributions to the nation's defense since the Institute's inception;
Whereas language specialists fluent in Arabic and other critical languages are especially vital to U.S. national security at this time;
Whereas the General Accounting Office reports that there is currently a serious shortage of such linguists in the military;
Whereas the military's recent dismissal of highly trained and highly skilled language specialists who are gay or lesbian presents a significant risk to national security;
Whereas sexual orientation is irrelevant to one's job performance, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unjust;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Linguistic Society of America make known its opposition to the U.S. military's policy of dismissing linguists, translators, interpreters, or other members of the armed forces on the basis of their sexual orientation.
