Military Gay Discharge Moratorium Bill A Non-Starter
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has decided not to pursue a senate amendment that would pause military discharges based on sexual orientation, gay weekly the Washington Blade reported. Gillibrand, the freshman senator appointed by Governor David Paterson after President Obama tapped Hillary Clinton to head the State Department, signaled last week she would introduce the reform as an amendment to a Defense Department reauthorization bill. The amendment would place an 18-month moratorium on the military gay ban, also known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the law that prescribes discharge for gay and lesbian service members who do not remain celibate or closeted.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/military-gay-…
Sarvis: Time is now to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Saying that lifting the military gay ban is a matter of urgent national security, Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, is calling on President Barack Obama to form a panel to study the effect of ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and present its findings within 90 to 120 days. Any further delay in overturning current law “is a slap in the face to the estimated 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving their country,” Sarvis writes. CBS News * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/sarvis-time-i…
Pentagon: No Plans To End Military Gay Ban
The Pentagon said today that it has no plans to repeal the military gay ban that prohibits open service by gay and lesbian soldiers. Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters Tuesday that repeal was not being actively pursued. The ban, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” prescribes discharge from the military for gay and lesbian service members who do not remain closeted or celibate. President Obama pledged to scrap the 1993 policy during the campaign, but has since soft-pedaled on the issue, saying he is looking for “fundamental reform.” When CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin asked Morrell for an update on what the Pentagon is doing to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” Morrell answered: “As far as I know, at this point, David, there has been no request made by the president to the Congress to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’.”
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/pentagon-no-p…
Openly gay soldier Dan Choi dismissed from National Guard under DADT
Lieutenant Dan Choi, the National Guard soldier who publicly came out live on national television, has been dismissed from duty.
He was dismissed for “homosexual conduct”.
Choi is a campaigner for the repeal of the military gay ban and a founding member of the Knights Out group.
He came out live on US television on the Rachel Maddow Show, where he will reappear tonight to discuss his dismissal.
In a preview of the show, Maddow reads a letter received by Choi from the Army National Guard.
It states: “This is to inform you that sufficient basis exists to initiate action for withdrawal of Federal Recognition in the Army National Guard for moral or professional dereliction.
“Specifically you admitted publicly that you are a homosexual, which constitutes homosexual conduct. Your actions negatively affected the good order and discipline of the New York Army National Guard.” See Openly gay soldier Dan Choi dismissed from National Guard under …
PinkNews.co.uk* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/openly-gay-so…
Justice Department not taking stand on appeal of gay officer’s firing
Calling it a “procedural decision,” the U.S. Justice Department is staying out of a federal lawsuit challenging the dismissal of an Air Force officer under the military gay ban being reviewed by a federal court. Former Air Force Maj. Margaret Witt’s case was dismissed by a federal judge, but is now being reconsidered by order of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Washington Blade * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/justice-depar…
Advocates give renewed push to lifting military ban
The debate over the military gay ban is part of the classroom discussions at West Point, where cadets reportedly are split on whether the policy should be changed, with most not firmly coming down on either side of the issue. In related news, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, as part of ramping up its campaign to lift the ban, has published an open letter to President Barack Obama, seeking to hold him to his campaign pledge to end the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The New York Times (4/30) , Pam’s House Blend (4/28) , The Politico (Washington)/Ben Smith’s blog (4/27) * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/advocates-giv…
ENDA, end of military ban, DP benefits top Polis’ agenda
The Employment Nondiscrimination Act, lifting the military gay ban and providing domestic-partner benefits to federal employees are the chief first-term goals cited by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. “We should absolutely be holding our elected officials, including President Obama, to their commitments to support those three pieces of legislation — and our elected members of the House and Senate to deliver on those,” he said. Dallas Voice
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/enda-end-of-m…
Psychoanalysts call for end to military gay ban
(New York City) The American Psychoanalytic Association is calling on Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the law the bars gays from serving openly in the military.
At its convention this month in New York City, the APsaA passed a resolution opposing the ban.
“It is the position of APsaA that …
Some retired military, Democrats support out leader for Navy secretary
Some retired military, Democrats support out leader for Navy secretary
William White, the openly gay chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, is being touted by some retired military brass and Democrats to get the nod as secretary of the Navy. The naming of White to the position would make him the first out leader of a branch of the services, but reportedly would not violate the military gay ban because the job is a civilian position. The Washington Times
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-retired-…
