WASHINGTON (AP) – Cynthia McKinney has been asked, but she won’t tell.

A group trying to lift the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on gays and lesbians in the military claims it is getting a cold shoulder from the Georgia Democratic Congress member who is typically an outspoken advocate of gay rights.

“It’s a little perplexing to us that given her previous record on issues important to the community that she has not been a co-sponsor or a leader on this issue,” said Steve Ralls, spokesperson for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

So far the group has rounded up the signatures of 67 lawmakers – including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. – who favor lifting the military service ban for people who are openly gay. McKinney wasn’t available for comment, but special assistant Hugh Escho indicated the issue doesn’t seem to be resonating with constituents one way or the other.

“We haven’t received any request from the folks back in our district on that one,” Escho said. “When the people of the district ask, I’m sure she’ll take it under consideration.”

McKinney’s silence on the bill, sponsored by Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., is more noticeable because of her spot on the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee – the first hurdle for the measure.

Still, one leading gay rights organization is expecting her to join the cause.

“Congresswoman McKinney has been a strong supporter of this issue in the past, and we have every reason to believe she’ll continue to be,” said David Smith, vice president of policy for the Human Rights Campaign. “We have 435 members of Congress to get to.”

The push to lift the ban comes after the release of a Government Accountability Office study last month that reveals hundreds of skilled troops, including many translators, left the armed forces because of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

GAO estimated it cost nearly $200 million to replace 9,488 troops charged because of the policy between 1994 and 2003.