Gates Orders DOD to Accelerate DADT Repeal

Expect another burst of batshitery from the usually Christianist and anti-gay hate group mouth pieces when they learn that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered the Department of Defense to accelerate the implementation of DADT repeal. And, given John McCain's sudden announcement - did Cindy and Megan get to him? - that he will do all he can to make DADT repeal work, expect some additional fulminating against McCain as well. As noted before on this blog, DADT has been one of the center pieces of the Christianist agenda to keep LGBT citizens inferior under the law since it has allowed them to cite the government's anti-gay discrimination as a justification for their own bigotry. DADT is a big deal in terms of undermining their agenda and the shrieking and wailing is only bound to get more shrill. Here are highlights from Stars and Stripes on Gates' action:
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Defense Secretary Robert Gates has instructed the Defense Department to accelerate a plan to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on openly gay military personnel and start rolling out its training within a “very few weeks.”
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Gates in a Pentagon press conference revealed a three-step plan: finalize changes in related regulations and policies, and get clearer definitions on benefits; prepare training materials for chaplains, lawyers, commanders and troops; and then begin to train servicemembers worldwide.
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“We’re trying to get the first two phases of that process done as quickly as possible,” Gates said, adding he has instructed Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley to accelerate his efforts. “My hope is that it can be done within a matter of a very few weeks so that we can then move on to what is the real challenge, which is providing training to 2.2 million people. And we will do that as expeditiously as we can.”
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Advocates for repeal have insisted no such training is required, and have warned the Pentagon against slow-rolling final certification to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Still, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised gay servicemembers to exercise just a bit more patience. “Now is not the time to come out,” Mullen said. “We certainly are focused on this and we won’t dawdle.”