The Beginning of the End for DADT

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Rook

I have slightly mixed feelings....

On the one hand, I'm glad to hear this..One step at a time, baby steps but still, it's a step forward, so future generations can proudly, Openly, shamelessly serve their Country...

On the other hand, I'm saddened it took the Powers-that-Be this long to meditate and come to such a conclusion...Had they done so 10-ish yrs ago{more or less when Clinton slapped us with it}, and abolished DADT, I honestly feel I'd probably be a part of the USMC JAG Corps at this point.....Unfortunately, the age factor..and Health keep me from pursuing if they finally accept LGBTQ...

Perhaps this will lead the way towards Equality in Marriage, Housing, Adoption etc ..Federally...

I agree BUT at least its happening. In the past 25 years I've slowly watch a shift in consciousness. The world changing and now that consciousness is becoming movement. Sometimes movement and change is unsettling and even destructive. Nature proves this to us all the time.

[Cyclopea]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_543796.html

[Rook]

I can understand being Heckled if you oppose certain measures, policies etc...
Other than successfully pissing off Supporters..
What exactly does it Prove?
I know he needs reminding from time to time..dang..

[Jess]

Originally Posted by Rook

I can understand being Heckled if you oppose certain measures, policies etc...
Other than successfully pissing off Supporters..
What exactly does it Prove?
I know he needs reminding from time to time..dang..

I personally think it proves more than anything else that we LGBT folks are getting very very tired of the people we fight to place in office not doing their jobs.

I don't think he should need reminding. He made it clear when running for office that equal human rights was at the forefront of his agenda. Have at it big boy!

Why is it that it has taken so long to figure out how to repeal DADT? Seems easier to do just about anything than to make it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals.

Frankly, I think Bill was trying to do the right thing with gays when DADT first came about. Seemed reasonable.. let's not talk about it, then there won't be discrimination. No one saw AT THE TIME, that it would be turned against us. Until we have laws making our rights ( ALL of our rights) equal to those of our heterosexual neighbors, we will remain less than second class citizens.

[Soon]

GetEQUAL sends us the above grid detailing the known (and unknown) DADT positions of Senators that serve on the Armed Services Committee. GetEQUAL: "These are very important targets to go after in the next 30 days with non-violent direct action and civil disobedience. It is of utmost importance that you contact ALL these Senators and express the importance of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." They suggest using these talking points when calling the above Senators.

----------------

Also: GetEQUAL is sitting in at Sen. John McCain's office in Arizona. Follow the developments on their Twitter feed.

[Soon]

TN Congressional candidates: Gays were 'taken care of' when they were in military

Physicians Ron Kirkland of Jackson and George Flinn of Memphis were among the candidates Thursday night who talked largely about how they're against the Obama administration and its policies, according to The Jackson Sun.

The candidates criticized the administration for wanting to overturn the gay policy, which prevents gays from serving openly in the military. President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the ban, and military officials are examining how to do that.

.....

Kirkland, a Vietnam veteran, said of his time in the military: "I can tell you if there were any homosexuals in that group, they were taken care of in ways I can't describe to you."

Smith, who served in the first Iraqi war, added: "I definitely wouldn't want to share a shower with a homosexual. We took care of that kind of stuff, just like (Kirkland) said."

The Tennessee Republican Party had no comment about the candidates statements when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday.

[Jess]

Hopefully some good news on this front:

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_129/news/46002-1.html

[chefhottie25]

An end to this policy is long overdue. My little sister served in the coast guard...and she had to do it in silence. It put a lot of stress on relationship at the time. I don't know how she did it for so many years.

[tuffboi29]

Originally Posted by Jess

Why is it that it has taken so long to figure out how to repeal DADT? Seems easier to do just about anything than to make it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals.

....Until we have laws making our rights ( ALL of our rights) equal to those of our heterosexual neighbors, we will remain less than second class citizens.

Hear!!! Hear!!!

[Soon]

His apology: “As mayor I must respect the lifestyle choices of others, no matter how disagreeable they are with my personal beliefs or my personal moral standards. I apologize for my comments at the Memorial Day service at Desert Lawn cemetery on Memorial Day.”

[Manul]

This isn't good news:

Gates: Veto possible of military gay ban bill

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Robert Gates says President Barack Obama could end up vetoing legislation that would lift the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Obama supports repealing the law, and the White House has pushed for quicker congressional action than the Pentagon has favored. Gates also supports repeal.

But Gates tells " Fox News Sunday" that Obama probably still would veto an upcoming spending bill that includes the repeal — if the bill also contains money for defense projects he says are wasteful.

Gates wants to get rid of an aircraft engine and additional transport aircraft that some lawmakers want to keep. They generally represent areas with defense contractors that would stand to lose business from the cuts.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Jess

I personally think it proves more than anything else that we LGBT folks are getting very very tired of the people we fight to place in office not doing their jobs.

I don't think he should need reminding. He made it clear when running for office that equal human rights was at the forefront of his agenda. Have at it big boy!

Why is it that it has taken so long to figure out how to repeal DADT? Seems easier to do just about anything than to make it illegal to discriminate against homosexuals.

Frankly, I think Bill was trying to do the right thing with gays when DADT first came about. Seemed reasonable.. let's not talk about it, then there won't be discrimination. No one saw AT THE TIME, that it would be turned against us. Until we have laws making our rights ( ALL of our rights) equal to those of our heterosexual neighbors, we will remain less than second class citizens.

If the idiots in Congress that don't want to see it repealed would not do things like putting in a bill that also appropriates money that both Obama and Defense Secretary Gates thinks is wastefull, it would be a done deal!

Just continued polital tactics by right-wing homophobes!

[Manul]

Charges dropped against Lt. Choi

[Jess]

http://www.autostraddle.com/intern-a...-survey-51722/

[Cyclopea]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_544586.html

I thought it was an interesting choice for the AP reporter to state that hecklers "screamed at" Obama. "Screamed"? Really?