Ellison WalzAs Congress, and the nation, debate the role that gays and lesbians play in the military, some Congress members are trying to protect those that testify about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by making that testimony immune from military scrutiny. Reps. Keith Ellison and Tim Walz are among the supporters of the Open and Honest Testimony Act.

“How can there be anything more important than a gay member of the service having the right to testify before the Armed Services Committee of the Congress that he is under the aegis of?” Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., queried The Associated Press. “But if they come and testify, that testimony could be used against them under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ In my judgment, it’s just a question of fairness.”

Public polling has long shown a majority of Americans opposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the armed forces.

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act is currently pending in the U.S. House and would make the military non-discriminatory based on sexual orientation. That bill is cosponsored by Ellison and Walz, as well as Reps. Betty McCollum and James Oberstar.