GOP congresswoman challenges gay law

MIAMI, April 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., has broken with her party leadership and asked the military to let gay men and lesbians to serve in the armed forces.

The request by the Miami congresswoman is a direct challenge to the policy of "don't ask, don't tell," The Miami Herald reported Monday.

"We've tried the policy. I don't think it works," Ros-Lehtinen said. "And we've spent a lot of money enforcing it."

Ros-Lehtinen, along with House Republicans Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Jim Kolbe of Arizona, joined 70 Democrats in support of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

The act would repeal the long-time ban on homosexuals in the military.

The "don't ask, don't tell" law was passed 12 years ago in a compromise that followed President Bill Clinton's effort to repeal the military's ban on gays.

Ros-Lehtinen said the investigations and charges that resulted from the law have wrecked the lives of people who were only trying to serve their country.