U. S. Senate "Too Busy" to Worry About Gay Citizens

It is certainly unsettling to hear a U.S. Senator basically state that equality for all citizens and the elimination of religious based discrimination against LGBT Americans is of no import to the United States Senate. The poor senators are just too busy. Worse yet, the statement was made by a Democrat - Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Nothing like more or less telling LGBT citizens to go f*ck themselves. I hope and pray that the LGBT community gets the message and turns off the LGBT ATM machine completely. We are expected to give money, work on campaigns, and go out and vote for Congressional Democrats, but they are "too busy" to get off their fat asses and pass legislation that would make gays full citizens rather than second or third class citizens. My standard response to Democrats soliciting contributions is that (1) I don't have any money to give at this time and (2) even if I did, I would not/will not make ANY donations until Obama and the Democrats deliver on some campaign promises. They REALLY do not like the latter statement, but it is true. Here are some highlights from Politico where Durbin is throwing the LGBT community under the bus yet again:

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When gay rights advocates march on Washington in October, they’ll be confronting a bleak political landscape in their effort to allow gays to openly serve in the military. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says the Senate is swamped and has little time on the schedule for this fight. The Pentagon brass is reticent and wants a go-slow strategy, while one poll suggests that there is still some resistance within the rank and file of the military to change the“don’t ask, don’t tell” law. With no Republican co-sponsors for a repeal, key moderate Democrats such as Sens. Jim Webb of Virginia and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas remain uncommitted.

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“We have a very heavy, busy agenda and a few months left to do it,” Durbin said in an interview recently. “So it may not be now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be soon.” None of this is promising for a gay rights movement that raised a ton of money for President Barack Obama and believed that their moment was now.

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And absent a big push from the Pentagon and Obama, key Senate Democrats are signaling that there is little appetite to anger some of their more socially conservative voters at a time when election forecasters are signaling a tough 2010 election cycle for the party.

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And Kennedy’s death — already felt in the health care debate — has reverberated in the gay-rights community. Over the years, he’s been on the forefront in advocating for bills sought by gay-rights activists, pushing for legislation to prevent hate crimes against gays and bills to prohibit employers from discriminating against homosexuals.

‘Voices of Honor’ Tour Comes to Norfolk, Virginia

I have written a great deal about the need for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, particularly because of the damage it does in this community with a very large number of military personnel and far more gays in the military than many Christianists could even imaging. People are forced to live a lie and live in fear of betrayal and many good, honorable men and women are forced from the military solely because a policy based on religious discrimination - something that makes a mockery of the U.S. Constitution's promise of freedom from religious based discrimination. To highlight this travesty, the "Voices of Honor" Tour is coming to Norfolk, Virginia, home of the world's largest naval base, on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Here are the details via a flyer sent to me by Jarrod Chlapowski, one of the participants in the tour:

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What: Town Hall Forum on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
When: Thursday, August 06, 6:00pm
Where: Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, Maritime Conference Room, 2nd Floor
One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
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The Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers United will be bringing the 2009 ‘Voices of Honor’ Tour to Norfolk on Thursday, August 6th at 6:00pm. The national tour highlights the continuing use of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to fire fit, competent, and highly skilled Americans from the U.S. military solely because of their sexual orientation.

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“Voices of Honor” features a diverse group of gay, lesbian, and straight veterans who have served under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including Jarrod Chlapowski, a former U.S. Army Korean linguist who opted to not re‐enlist because of DADT and is now a Policy Advocate for the Human Rights Campaign; Megan Scanlon, a former U.S. Army officer and a local Williamsburg, Virginia, resident; Julianne Sohn, a former Marine Corps officer and Iraq War veteran who was discharged under DADT; Stephen Vossler, a straight U.S. Army veteran and a Policy Advocate for Servicemembers United; and others standing united and speaking out for the repeal of this discriminatory policy.
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As of 2008, more than 13,000 men and women have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation, including more than 60 Arabic linguists and nearly 800 other service members in critical occupational fields.

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Not only is Don't Ask, Don't Tell unconstitutional in my opinion, it also seriously damages the military's ability to perform its mission. I urge local readers to show up for this event and show your support for ending DADT. More information can be found here: www.hrc.org/VoicesOfHonor

British Army Puts Gay Soldier on Magazine Cover

What a concept - a military where religious based discrimination is not enshrined in military policy. For a glimpse of how gay and lesbian service members might serve in the U.S. military if only Christianist backed religious discrimination was eliminated one only need look at the British military. U.S. troops have served along side British troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan - including openly gay British troops - without incident. This ought to demonstrate to all who are not Neanderthals and bigots that gays in the military should be a non-issue. I'd go so far as to state that if members of the military cannot cope with serving with gay troops, then it is they, not the gays who should be discharged. Here are some highlights from The Independent:

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In the genteel atmosphere of the Coldstream Guards' officers' mess, Lieutenant Mark Wakeling was known as "thug". Amongst his fellow guardsmen, he prided himself on being the toughest, the fittest and the most aggressive. He not only laughed at homophobic jokes – he was the "straightest of the straight" amongst the young officers. When one of his platoon admitted to being gay, he immediately started the discharge process.

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Nobody realised that behind the excessively macho behaviour was a young man who lived in fear that his own homosexuality would be discovered. Eventually, the pressure became too much and he cut short his military career and resigned his commission.

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This month, for the first time in its history, the cover of the British Army's official publication Soldier magazine shows Trooper James Wharton – openly gay – clad in his dress uniform, complete with Iraq medal, next to the headline "Pride". It is the most obvious sign that almost a decade after the military lifted the ban on homosexuality it is finally comfortable with its new clothes.

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Perhaps most tellingly, senior officers from the US have been quietly holding talks with their British counterparts on how America can change its "don't ask, don't tell" police which has seen more than 12,500 members discharged since its inception 16 years ago.

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For Mr Wakeling, the news that Trooper Wharton can genuinely live openly as a gay man with a boyfriend in another ancient and prestigious regiment, the Household Cavalry, generates such obvious turmoil that he has to pause to compose himself. "I can't express how fantastic it is to know they are able to be themselves. I regret that I lost out. I felt I didn't really fulfil my ambition in the army. It was tragic. I was a good soldier. I could have been useful to the army," explained Mr Wakeling.

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The legal change allowing the gay to openly serve took place in January 2000 after a two year legal battle involving three gay men and a lesbian, who had been discharged from the Royal Navy and RAF after being found to be gay.

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[T]he predictions proved wrong and the military entered its brave new world with surprising ease. A confidential review two years later across all three services found that most officers and junior ranks, particularly among the younger ones, had accepted the lifting of the ban without much comment. It was only amongst the older Senior Non-Commissioned and Warrant Officers that it had met significant resistance.

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"I would be lying if I say there was no bullying that happened but it is certainly less than other offences such as racial or sexual harassment," explained Lieutenant Colonel Colin Bulleid of the British Army Equality and Diversity Policy Branch. "There has been no overt homophobic hate wave. We occasionally get the odd prat who behaves inappropriately. But he gets stamped on when he gets found out. We have a reasonably good complaints system."

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Apart from simply accepting the change, the last few years has seen a military hierarchy choosing to be vocal and visible on the subject, advertising in the gay press for recruits and seeking to openly connect with a community that still treats it with some suspicion. In 2005, the Royal Navy joined the Stonewall diversity champions programme for employers, followed 12 months later by the RAF and finally last year, by the army. In similar sequence, each service has allowed its soldiers to march (to great applause) at the Gay Pride event. Several personnel are now listed in the Independent's Pink List of the most influential gay and lesbian people in Britain.

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The story also cites several British military legends who were suspected of being gay - thus showing the stupidity of discharging qualified members of the military solely to satisfy the hate and religious based bigotry of people like Elaine Donnelly, Pat Robertson, James Dobson and similar professional Christian snake oil merchants.

Harry Reid Supports End of DADT

In a welcomed but somewhat surprising move, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated - when asked about a proposed amendment to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to suspend the discharge of gay and lesbian service members under DADT for 18 months - that he wants the moratorium to be permanent. Whether or not this statement will translate into real action, of course, remains to be seen, but is in sharp contrast to other mumblings that no one in Congress is in a hurry to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I for one do not trust the Congressional Democrats to actually do what they say, but remain willing to be convinced that I'm wrong. Here are some highlights from the Washington Blade:

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Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today announced support for a legislative moratorium on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that would prevent further discharges of gay service members for 18 months. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is considering the introduction of an amendment to that effect for the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill, according to her office. The defense bill is being debated this week on the Senate floor.

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Reid declared his support for the amendment when asked about it by the Blade at a news conference Tuesday. “If Kirsten offers this amendment, I will support it,” Reid said. He continued: “I would support that. My only difference I would have is I would make it permanent.” Reid added, “We’re having trouble getting people into the military” and potential enlistees shouldn’t be turned down, and not “certainly based on sexual orientation.”

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The full response from Sen. Reid follows: “I feel on this issue that we’re having trouble, we’re having trouble getting people into the military and I think that we shouldn’t turn down anybody that’s willing to fight for our country — certainly based on sexual orientation. I feel strongly that — I support the president. I support the members of the Joint Chiefs who have not spoken out publicly. If Kirsten offers this amendment I will support it, at least as far as I understand it. What you’ve just told me, it would basically change the current policy for 18 months, is that right? I would support that. My only difference I would have is I would make it permanent.”

"Voices of Honor" Tour to Repeal DADT

The Human Rights Campaign is partnering with Servicemembers United to launch "Voices of Honor: A Generation Under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," a national tour highlights the discriminatory law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk. Leading the parallel charge in Congress for the repeal of DADT is Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), a former West Point professor and Iraq War vet, the lead sponsor of the repeal legislation . I watched Murphy last night on Rachel Madow's show and he is amazing and has a level of enthusiasm I wish we saw in more of our elected officials in Congress who care more about not being perceived as "rocking the boat" than doing what is right (Glenn Nye, I mean folks like you). Here are highlights from Murphy's statement about the launch of this effort:

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Our president, President Barack Obama, has stated that If Congress can get a bill to his desk repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, he will sign it into law. It is now our job, and my job specifically, to quarterback this through the Congress of the United States to do just that. I can not tell you today how long it's gonna take. All I can tell ya is that paratroopers don't quit, and paratroopers get the job done. To remove honorable, talented and committed Americans from serving in our military is contrary to the values that our military holds dear."

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"Voices of Honor" will make stops in Philadelphia; Trenton; Virginia Beach; Phoenix; Kansas City, MO; Orlando and Tampa and will feature former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in Iraq, among others. CNN points out that some of those involved were chosen because they're straight, as outreach to other straight soldiers. It will be interesting to see what coverage, if any, the tour receives from the Hampton Roads MSM media.

More Signs of Back Tracking on DADT Repeal?

Over the weekend more disturbing remarks were made by Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell that suggest that the Obama administration is going to break its campaign promise of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Powell's comments are particularly ironic since at the time President Harry Truman integrated the military there were many racist whites who viewed blacks much the same way gays are viewed by homophobic bigots. Using Powell's analysis, Truman should not have made the move he did - waiting instead for the country to be ready for the change. Living around the military as I do, it is likely the most anti-change institution there is save perhaps the bitter old queens at the Vatican. First, here are highlights of Mullen's comments via the San Francisco Chronicle:

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The nation's top military officer said Sunday he has advised President Barack Obama to move "in a measured way" in changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. . . . "I've had conversations with him about that. What I've discussed in terms of the future is I think we need to move in a measured way," Mullen said.

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Mullen said he has discussed with his staff what steps might be taken to implement a change in the policy. "I haven't done any kind of extensive review. And what I feel most obligated about is to make sure I tell the president, you know, my — give the president my best advice, should this law change, on the impact on our people and their families at these very challenging times," he said.

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WTF does whether gays serve openly have to do with military families? And as for "challenging times," the military is now accepting recruits with criminal records and deficient education credentials rather than qualified gays which would seem to raise far greater issues for "our families." As for Powell, he made the following remarks:

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Sunday that the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy he helped craft should be revisited, but he would not go so far as to call for a full repeal of the compromise.

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"I was withholding judgment because the commanders of the armed forces of the United States and the Joint Chiefs of Staff need to study it and make recommendations to the president, and have hearings before the Congress before a decision is made," he added. "It is not just a matter of old generals who, you know, are just too high-bound. There are lots of complicated issues with respect to this, and I think all of those issues should be illuminated. And I hope that the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders working with the secretary of defense will give this the greatest consideration and make their recommendation to the president and to the Congress."

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By not calling for full repeal, the former Secretary of State and prominent Obama endorser doesn't really do the Obama administration many favors. During the campaign, the president called for overturning "Don't Ask Don't Tell." But he has been slow to act since taking office, even as 250 military servicemen have been dismissed for disclosing their sexuality.

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In effect both men seem fine with continuing religious based legal discrimination against LGBT Americans. Has Powell forgotten how the Bible was used to justify slavery in the past? Both men disgust me.

Congressman Bobby Scott Signs Letter to Suspend DADT

Bobby Scott is my representative in Congress and represents a district with a huge military personnel population. It is telling that he believes that President Obama needs to suspend this damaging policy that - contrary to the rants of the Christianists who want gay Americans to be legally inferior at all cost - reduces the readiness of our armed forces and results in the loss of needed personnel. While Scott signed the letter with 76 other members of Congress, Glenn Nye - who received huge support from the LGBT community and this blog - did not and is giving the mealy mouth excuse of wanting to hear from Neanderthal military commanders. Glenn, you disappoint me!! Grow some backbone! Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D- 3rd District, has signed a letter asking President Barack Obama to suspend the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allow gay people to serve in the military without penalty. Scott and 76 other legislators this week signed the letter, which argues that the policy does a disservice to the country by forcing out experienced military personnel who are found to be gay or lesbian.

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They asked Obama to direct the military to immediately cease any investigations of service members' sexual orientation and to disregard any third-party claims. They also asked Obama to urge Congress to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law, which went into effect in 1993. The letter was drafted by U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Florida Democrat.

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, D- 2nd District, did not sign the letter. Nye said he wants to hear from military commanders, who are currently reviewing the policy, before he takes a position on the issue.

Obama and the DNC Disingenuousness

Following various blogs and e-mails, the grass roots LGBT fury at the Congressional Democrats and President Obama seems to be continuing to escalate and rightly so. Obama courted the LGBT vote in his campaign for the presidency but only now – after he took our money, our grassroots work and our votes – do we get the rest of the story to quote the late Paul Harvey. It seems that Obama wants to leave the delivery of equal rights for LGBT Americans - whether it be repealing DADT and DOMA or enacting ENDA and hate crimes legislation - solely up to Congress and he has no apparent intention of using his bully pulpit of the presidency to exert some leadership on the issue. Meanwhile, the mealy mouthed leadership of the House and Senate majorities – particularly Harry Reid - sit on their asses and whine that they are waiting for leadership from Obama. The result? Absolutely nothing of true substance is happening - other than Obama inviting “leaders” a/k/a sycophants from of LGBT community to White House for photo op functions that will then be cynically used to provide cover for Obama and the Congressional Democrats even as they are throwing LGBT citizens under the bus.
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By way of example of Obama’s cynical disregard for our lives and our rights as citizens, in response to a letter sent by 77 House Democrats Obama threw the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t tell (DADT”) back on Congress. Here are some highlights from the Advocate:
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Seventy-seven Congressional members led by Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings of Florida sent a letter to President Barack Obama Monday urging him to take immediate action to stop the investigations of "don't ask, don't tell" violations. The letter does not call for an executive order halting discharges but rather a change in how the policy is implemented within the Department of Defense.
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And what was the White House response? A statement that read as follows:
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"President Obama remains committed to a legislative repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which he believes will provide a durable and lasting solution to this issue. He welcomes the commitment of these members to seeing Congress take action," read the statement.
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It is enough to make one want to vomit. Fortunately, the boycott of the DNC fundraiser seems to be gathering steam – Hillary Rosen ids the latest to bail – and now SDLN is planning not only a demonstration outside the DNC fundraiser, but also a march on the White House on Saturday in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Here are some highlights from the SDLN’s press release:
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The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and its allies will commemorate the 40thanniversary of the Stonewall riots by leading a march of 265 veterans, service members and supporters to the White House 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27, to urge President Obama to break his continued silence on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." The 265 marchers represent the number of service members discharged this week since the President and the new Congress were sworn in.
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“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ underscores that discrimination against gays and lesbians continues 40 years after the Stonewall riots, and reminds us that many challenges remain in the fight for full equality,” said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director. “Like those who stood up for freedom at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, we will stand up for the freedom to serve. We need to tell President Obama that 265 is enough.”
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SLDN has been urging the President to speak up and send a bill (the Military Readiness Enhancement Act) to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader that overturns DADT and replaces it with a policy of nondiscrimination.
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As long as the President remains silent on DADT repeal, men and women in the military will continue to be fired at a clip of two per day on average. The sense of urgency is palpable.
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In this atmosphere what can regular LGBT citizens do to register their displeasure? Actually, there are a number of things. First, tell every solicitor for contributions for the DNC or Congressional Democrat groups that unless and until Congress and Obama take substantive action, not one penny will be donated. Second, contact your members of Congress and give them Hell. Third, send your hard earned monetary contributions to other worthy recipients. Here in Virginia, for example, consider supporting Creigh Deeds so that Bob “Taliban Bob” McDonnell does not win the governorship come November. Or send your money to Jody agner, the Democrat nominee for Lieutenant Governor. Fourth, donate funds to state LGBT equality organizations rather than HRC and other national groups that care more about access to power than seeing than anything substantive is done. Fifth, with the down economy, many HIV/AIDS charities are seriously hurting for money – send you hard earned dollars to them rather than the disingenuous DNC.
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The bottom line is that if the DNC, Congressional Democrats and Obama will not support us, turn off the LGBT ATM that they love so much. They need to get the message that we will not be played for suckers again.

Are Gay Rights Organizations Selling Us Out?

I have often felt that some of the leadership of national LGBT organizations - HRC in particular - set more store on attending exclusive dinners and seeking out opportunities to hob nob with senior politicians than forcefully working to advance full LGBT equality. After all, the day that full equality arrives, they will be out of a job. Now some blogs like Pam's House Blend and an Article in Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper, are suggesting that the repeal of DADT may be delayed due to a deal made by some of our "leaders" in the LGBT movement. Seeing far too many casualties of this sick policy in this area on a regular basis, this betrayal both sickens me and makes my blood boil. The arrogance of some of the national organizations is truly maddening. Here are highlights from Stars and Stripes:

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The House of Representatives has had a bill to overturn the law pending since March, but no hearings have been scheduled on the measure. Bill sponsor Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., collected 147 co-sponsors for the legislation but publicly said she wouldn’t push for passage without support from the president.

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An official with the House Democratic leadership said the House is committed to repealing “don’t ask” but has agreed with civil rights groups to put new hate crime legislation and a workplace nondiscrimination bill on the legislative calendar before taking up the military issue.

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The hot-potato game between the White House and Capitol Hill is fueling frustration among gay-rights advocates, who strongly supported both Obama and the Democratic slate of congressional candidates during last year’s election. Both the president and lawmakers promised during the campaign to overturn the “don’t ask” law.

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“I don’t begrudge people for seeking political cover,” said Nathaniel Frank, a researcher at the liberal Palm Center and author of a book about the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. “But Congress is looking to Obama as the head of the Democratic Party. Obama is saying that Congress needs to act and the military needs to get ready. This is a passing of the buck.”

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But planned changes don’t contain any privacy or anonymity guarantees. Edmund Burns, spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, said everyone applying for benefits is essentially “outing” themselves and their partners. That means a Defense Department employee with a same-sex partner in the military could run afoul of the “don’t ask” rules. Pentagon officials said they are not aware of any plans to adopt special guidelines shielding benefits information from “don’t ask” investigations.

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If you ask me, besides boycotting the DNC fundraisers, LGBT donors might want to shut off the money ATM to some of our "leaders" who leave our rights by the side of the road as they dash off to invites from the White House and other soirees.

Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Now. It is Well Past Time.

EDITOR'S COMMENT: This post is cross posted from Bilerico-DC and was written before I saw Jonathan Capehart's thought full post in the Washington Post that correctly notes that besides pressing Obama to live up to his campaign promises the LGBT community really needs to put pressure on the representatives in Congress as well. Here are highlights where Jonathan is right on point:

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If gays and lesbians want big victories, such as the repeal of DOMA and the "don't ask don't tell" policy, they should focus their fire where it belongs: on Congress. Each bill will take 218 votes in the House and 60 in the Senate to reach the president's desk, and the votes aren't there yet. Saying no one is going to hand gay men and lesbians their rights, Berry told me, "We have to get out there and fight and get those votes." That won't be easy. But if last week's announcement is a sign that Obama will be vocal, persistent and public in his support, the fight can be won.

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As for my Bilerico-DC piece, here it is:

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Living in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia with its huge military population, Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) is an ever present blight on the LGBT community. I personally know numerous gay and lesbian couples where one of the partners is active duty military and they live in constant fear of discovery.

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The result is that they must live very low profile lives, be careful how they hold title to property and take numerous other precautions to guard against possible discovery of their relationships.
In some cases, gays and lesbians even marry for cover as they each live their true lives on the side. Despite such precautions, a single disgruntled fellow service member can make allegations that result in "witch hunts" - and in the case of two friends, both were thrown out of the military and they never even knew the identity of their accuser.

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Moreover, while the military claims that it "does not ask," the reality is that there are those in the military that have been known to watch people leaving gay bars trying to identify military personnel, and those who search gay chat rooms for the same purpose.

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Thus, while President Obama and Congressional Democrats spinelessly dance around the issue - basically because of anti-gay religious based discrimination - real lives are adversely affected literally ever day, and frequently individuals are "outed" through no direct actions of their own.

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It has been argued that Obama could end discharges via an executive order - but as one highly-placed LGBT opponent of DADT has made clear, there is a good argument why this approach has definite negative aspects to it. Here are some highlights from a recent e-mail:

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The prior gay ban was, in fact, suspended during the first Gulf War...but what happened, immediately after, is that the gay troops whose dismissals had been postponed were sent home and fired at the war's conclusion.

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As a result, dozens of Americans who had served honorably in the war zone were kept on board just long enough to finish the job, and then given a pink slip as a "thank you" for their service. I don't think any of us would argue that was an acceptable solution.

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Even if an executive order could be used as a temporary solution by President Obama (and I'm not yet completely convinced that it could be), it opens up a can of worms, and a ton of questions that - down the road - could be very problematic for our community, and our country.

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If President Obama were to sign such an order, he would essentially be circumventing the will (and power) of Congress. Because, while other prior gay bans were a matter of military policy, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a law codified by Congress. When it became law, Congress - for all intents and purposes - took the power to implement, modify or cancel the law away from the commander-in-chief and gave it to the legislative branch instead.

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Were President Obama to attempt the precedent (and it would be that) of stopping implementation of a Congressional law via executive order, it would set off a litany of constitutional questions. And, even if the order withstood legal scrutiny (which, again, I have serious doubts about), it would then set the stage to allow future Presidents to simply stop implementation of Congressional efforts with the stroke of a pen.

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I believe that this analysis is on point and, therefore, the only real solution is Congressional repeal of DADT. If Obama and the Democrats continue to be spineless on this issue, then the LGBT community needs to make the apparent unraveling of the DNC fundraiser this coming week a political disaster that resonates with the Democratic Party.

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The LGBT money ATM needs to be turned off and our "supposed community leaders" need to stop running to the White House whenever invited so that the Obama administration can engage in damage control. As former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John M. Shalikashvili says, the true evidence supports the fact that gays serving openly in the military does NOT impair unit cohesiveness or military readiness. We simple need leaders who have the courage to do the right thing rather than stand about fearfully wringing their hands. Here are some highlights from Shalikashvili's recent editorial in the Washington Post:

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Tradition is a critical military value, and the armed forces have a long-standing tradition of banning gay men and lesbians. Equally important military traditions, however, are learning and adapting -- and my colleagues made claims as if no new knowledge has been acquired over past decades, during which time Israel and Britain joined more than 20 other nations to allow openly gay individuals to serve without overall problems.

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In Britain and Canada, polls had indicated that thousands would resign if gays were allowed to serve, but when the bans were lifted, almost no one left. The British Defense Ministry conducted several assessments of the policy change and called it a "solid achievement." The flag officers neglected to acknowledge Britain's experience, instead dismissing the relevance of nations such as "Denmark, the Netherlands and Canada."

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While it is true that the U.S. armed forces are unique, it is important that we not marginalize the lessons learned in other countries -- particularly those that often conduct joint operations with us. But it is not just foreign militaries that show service by allowing openly gay individuals to serve their country. The U.S. military itself has had successful experiences. Enforcement of the ban was suspended without problems during the Persian Gulf War, and there were no reports of angry departures. 8

According to several polls and reports released in the last several years, a majority of U.S. service members say they know or believe someone in their unit may be gay or lesbian - and yet find no detriment to unit morale or cohesion.

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Truth be told, it is far past time for Obama and the Congressional Democrats to stop listening to the likes of the laughable Elaine Donnelly and similar deranged Christianist homophobes, and instead deliver on Obama's promise to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Absent some delivery on his campaign promises, personally I will not believe a thing that Mr. Obama and his mouthpieces say about being "fierce advocates" for LGBT Americans.

Gays in the Military: Let the Evidence Speak

Back in April frigid Christianist ice queen Elaine Donnelly put together a group of elderly/reactionary former military officers that signed on to a poisonous op-ed that supported keeping Don't Ask, Don't Tell ("DADT") in place. Now, former Joint Chief's of Staff Chairman, General John M. Shalikashvili, has penned his own op-ed column that blasts the April anti-gay screed and challenges the U.S. military to learn from the experiences of our allies that have successfully integrated openly gay service members into their armed forces without incident. I do not understand why Americans refuse to learn from the experiences of others - particularly when we have U.S. troops serving side by side in a number of theaters with foreign troops that include openly gay service members. As I have said in numerous previous posts, in this area we have probably many thousands of gays military members on active duty with NO negative impact on morale. Here are highlights from Shalikashvili's column in the Washington Post:

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News that the president would change the policy had inspired a group of retired flag officers to argue on this page this spring that service by openly gay individuals would harm morale, discipline, cohesion, recruitment and retention in the U.S. military. . . .

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According to the generals and admirals, allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly would make parents less willing to allow their sons and daughters to enlist. The argument assumes that anti-gay sentiment is so fierce and widespread that moving to a policy of equal treatment would drive away thousands and could ultimately "break the All-Volunteer Force." Not only is there no evidence to support these conclusions, but research shows conclusively that openly gay service members would not undermine military readiness.

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Tradition is a critical military value, and the armed forces have a long-standing tradition of banning gay men and lesbians. Equally important military traditions, however, are learning and adapting -- and my colleagues made claims as if no new knowledge has been acquired over past decades, during which time Israel and Britain joined more than 20 other nations to allow openly gay individuals to serve without overall problems. In Britain and Canada, polls had indicated that thousands would resign if gays were allowed to serve, but when the bans were lifted, almost no one left.

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But it is not just foreign militaries that show service by openly gay individuals works. The U.S. military itself has had successful experiences. Enforcement of the ban was suspended without problems during the Persian Gulf War, and there were no reports of angry departures. A majority of U.S. service members say they know or believe that someone in their unit is gay, according to a 2006 Zogby International poll, and most of those who know of openly gay peers report no detriment to morale or cohesion.

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While the proper timing of repealing "don't ask, don't tell" remains uncertain, it is evident to me that a policy change is inevitable. More than three-quarters of the public favors the change. Polls show that even a majority of Republicans support allowing openly gay people to serve. Within the military, the climate has changed dramatically since 1993.

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Under current policy, we have lost more than 13,000 of those people, such as the Arabic language speaker featured in the new film "Ask Not." In addition, researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles have found that nearly 4,000 people leave voluntarily each year because of the ban, and that more than 40,000 recruits might join if the ban is ended.

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[I]t will be important for the conversation about gays and lesbians in the military to be informed by data, not speculation or emotion. That people on all sides of the issue feel strongly about it is more reason, not less, to let the evidence do the talking.

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We are way past the time when the religious based basis behind DADT needs to be thrown on the dung heap of history. The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of - and from religion - yet DADT is in the final analysis based solely on religious based bigotry.

New York Times Calls for End to DADT

In a recent main page editorial the New York Times called for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ("DADT") which is a continuing blight on the lives of LGBT members of the military. Knowing many gays in the military who are serving honorably and often with high distinction, DADT does nothing to serve unite cohesion and everything to gratify the anti-gay hysteria of the Christianists and loons like Elaine Donnelly (who like Robert Knight is a wee bit too hysterical on the issue of gays in general). With opinion polls showing major public support for the repeal of DADT it is disgusting that the Obama administration lacks the guts to tackle the issue head on. Here are highlights from the Times editorial:

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Unfortunately, neither President Obama nor Congress shows much appetite for moving to end a ban that is not only unfair to gay men and lesbians but damaging to the military as well.
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The ostensible rationale was that the known presence of gay men and lesbians would undermine morale and unit cohesion, but as it turned out, the policy caused its own kind of damage to military readiness. Thousands of service members have been discharged from duty at a time when the military is stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The loss of highly skilled interpreters and intelligence analysts has been especially damaging.

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Members of the military and of the general public are much more receptive to the notion of accepting gays than they were in 1993.

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Advocates for gay soldiers believe that the administration, on its own, has the authority to prevent the discharge of gay people, perhaps by issuing “stop-loss” orders such as those used to keep troops serving past their original commitments in Iraq — many unwillingly. How much better to use the power to prevent the loss of gay service members eager to keep serving.

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President Obama should see if there is indeed any action he could take on his own while awaiting the military’s assessment. In the end, it will be up to Congress to root out “don’t ask, don’t tell” by overturning the law that brought it about.

Steven Colbert Mocks DADT

It is rather sad that other than Rachel Madow and a few others the only "news anchors" if you will who have the balls to take on the issue of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and other LGBT issues in order to show the idiocy of the anti-gay loons are on the Comedy Channel. Namely, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. Colbert is currently in Iraq entertaining troops and did a skit which, while leaving room for a more forceful denunciation of DADT, mocked the idiocy of the policy. Here is a clip:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Formidable Opponent - Don't Ask, Don't Tell
http://www.colbertnation.com/
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Stephen Colbert in Iraq

What is distressing is that now with even a majority of conservatives supporting a repeal of DADT, the Obama administration continues to lack the fortitude and integrity to push for repeal or at least a stop loss directive that could halt expulsions of LGBT service members. While the debate around DADT is a philosophical debate for many, living here in the presence of a huge number of military personnel, this horrible policy impacts on the lives of real living, breathing individuals literally on an everyday basis.

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I urge readers to please contact their representatives in Congress and the White House to demand that DADT be repealed.

What Has Obama Done as 'Fierce Advocate in Chief' for Gays?

I posted yesterday about the Obama administration's arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to turn down a challenge to Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Well, last night, Rachel Madow did a wonderful job of highlighting Obama's total failure to deliver to date on any of his campaign promises to LGBT Americans. Here are some highlights via You Tube:

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I love Rachel's show and in particular her willingness to call it like it is without the ass kissing that is so prevalent through out most of the main stream media. As for Obama, I am still waiting to be proven wrong and that he's not a cynical liar when it comes to LGBT issues.

Supreme Court and Obama Uphold Don't Ask Don't Tell

In yet another example of Barack Obama flipping the finger to LGBT Americans, the Obama administration successfully defended and convinced the the U.S Supreme Court to refuse to review Don't Ask Don't Tell ("DADT") by arguing in court paper that the appeals court had ruled correctly in this case when it found that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is “rationally related to the government’s legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion.” I hate to say it, but after this Obama looks like a cynical bigot who used LGBT Americans to win election and who has now thrown us all under the bus. I am beyond disgusted and increasingly view Obama with contempt. I have no use for liars and Obama looks increasingly like a liar when it comes to meaning anything he said during last fall's campaign in respect to the struggle for LGBT equality under the civil laws. The fact that felons, those without high school diplomas and other undesirables are welcome in the military while gays are not just adds insult to injury. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com:

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The Supreme Court on Monday agreed with the Obama administration and refused to review Pentagon policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The court said it will not hear an appeal from former Army Capt. James Pietrangelo II, who was dismissed under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

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The federal appeals court in Boston earlier threw out a lawsuit filed by Pietrangelo and 11 other veterans. He was the only member of that group who asked the high court to rule that the Clinton-era policy is unconstitutional.

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“I think this decision is an absolute travesty of justice and I think every judge on this court should be ashamed of themselves,” said Pietrangelo, who served six years in the Army, seven years in the Vermont National Guard and fought in Iraq in 1991. “It’s nothing short of rubber stamping legalized discrimination, the same way Nazi Germany legalized discrimination against Jews. “The Supreme Court is not infallible, they get things wrong, and they got it wrong this time,” he said.

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In court papers, the administration said the appeals court ruled correctly in this case when it found that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is “rationally related to the government’s legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion.” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman referred requests for comment to the Justice Department, but said the military policy “implements the law.”

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“What it’s going to take is 30 million gay Americans getting off their butts and standing in front of the White House demanding gay quality,” said Pietrangelo, who has since moved back to his native Ohio.

Wanted: President with Empathy

A contributor to Pam's House Blend has posted a letter that she has written to President Obama in regard to his failure to deliver on ANY of his campaign promises to date to LGBT Americans. The letter is moving and lays out why movement by Obama on LGBT issues is important and should not be put on the back burner for attention "someday" or "later." We are talking about real lives and real people who are deprived of equality because of religious based discrimination - something that ought to already be forbidden under the U.S. Constitution. The letter is lengthy but I encourage you to read the whole piece. Here are some highlights:

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Dear President Obama,

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I write to you today as a parent, and I am asking you to hear my plea not as President of the United States, but as the parent of two beautiful daughters. My husband and I cried tears of joy that November night back in 2008 when you were declared the victor and 44th president of the United States. But despite our tremendous relief that George W. Bush would soon be gone and you would soon be taking over, it was still a bittersweet night for us. Yes, our hopes and prayers had been answered. Yes, the eight year nightmare finally felt almost over. But our intense joy was overshadowed by the passages of hateful marriage amendments in both Arizona and California.

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My husband and I understood exactly what those horrible marriage amendments were really all about and we knew it had nothing to do with protecting the sanctity of our 27-year marriage, and everything to do with hate, ignorance and bigotry masquerading as a mandate from God. It was also the point at which we painfully realized that enough of our fellow Arizonans, possibly friends and neighbors among them, felt so strongly that our son was not worthy of the same rights they enjoyed that they could pull the lever for enshrining his second-class citizenship into our state constitution. I cannot describe the pain we felt. Saying it was excruciating just doesn't do it justice.

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But thankfully I was able to console myself with the knowledge that these amendments represented the last of the divisive political tactics used by the previous administration to pit American against American simply to win, with no regard to the damage it would do to our country. We just knew that with your election this kind of stuff would soon be an ugly memory and that we would soon have a man of honor and dignity coming into office - a man who promised, over and over, to make things right.

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Mr. President, we were deeply moved by all of the inspirational speeches you gave during your campaign. We hung on to your every word. We were so desperate for change and your words filled us with so much hope and optimism. We believed you when you promised you'd fight for legal equality for gays and lesbians by expanding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity, we believed you when said you'd urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws, we believed you when you promised you'd repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and we believed you when you said you'd support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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But maybe I was wrong. Yes, I know, you walked into a horrific mess on January 20th, 2009. Yes, your plate is full. Yes, there are many urgent matters that must be dealt with. And yes, you must make some tremendously difficult prioritizing decisions. But your silence on every single one of these LGBT issues Mr. President, is deafening. And it is a crushing disappointment.

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The fact that I am pleading with you nearly 5 months into your presidency to keep the promises you made while asking for my vote is telling. The fact that I have to beg you to make my son an equal citizen of this great country is something I cannot believe I'm being forced to do. The idea that the constitutionally protected rights of a minority can be put up for a vote by the majority is un-American, unconstitutional, and just plain wrong.

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So I ask you Mr. President, how would you feel if you were forced to beg your friends, your neighbors, your fellow citizens, and even the President of the United States to treat one of your precious daughters the same way they treat their own children? How would you feel? Horrified? Indifferent? Filled with seething rage? I need to know, because your answer to that question will tell me just how much empathy you have.

Obama's Proclaimation on LGBT Pride Month

Speaking of Obama, in recognition of June as LGBT Pride Month, the White House has issued a proclamation that can be found here. Oh yes, the proclamation has some wonderful words in it, but sadly words are all that LGBT Americans have yet to receive from the Obama administration. Rather than leading the charge for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell - an issue close to my heart and which could double or triple the number of out LGBT citizens in this area - or pushing for the passage of ENDA, Obama continues to merely mouth pretty words while taking no positive action. Here are some highlights from the presidential proclamation - read them and see how they describe actions Obama refuses to take while he cuddles up to the likes of Christianists like Rick Warren:

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THE WHITE HOUSE

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Office of the Press Secretary

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For Immediate Release

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June 1, 2009

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LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA "

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A PROCLAMATION

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Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

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Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

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My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

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Obama can begin by discarding his own religious based prejudice against same sex marriage. He can then start to deliver on the programs he claims to support. Talk is cheap and I and many others want to see action.

Obama's Good Intentions Are Not Enough

As the saying goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Thus, Barack Obama may have the best of intentions towards eventually pushing through the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but in the meanwhile careers and lives of LGBT members of the military continue to be ruined. Meanwhile, Obama fiddles like Nero as Rome figuratively burns. Again, living in this area with a huge military personnel presence and knowing many gays who are in the military, this issue resonates loudly with me and underscores the idiocy of a policy that does NOTHING except enshrine religious based discrimination within the U.S. military - something that is unconstitutional on its face. Aubrey Sarvis has a column in the Huffington Post which looks at the damage being done while Obama dithers with his good intentions:

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Sunday morning on ABC's This Week, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told George Stephanopoulos that they'd been talking about "don't ask, don't tell" in the Pentagon. Admiral Mullen said, "The President has made his strategic intent very clear. . . . I've had discussions with the Joint Chiefs about this. I've done certainly a lot of internal, immediate staff discussions about what the issues would be and . . . ." Sounds like a plan? No, it doesn't, and without a strong push from the White House, it won't be.

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And Chairman Mullen did make it clear on This Week that he knew what the President wanted to accomplish with respect to repealing DADT. "The President has made his strategic intent very clear," he said. "That it's his intent at some point in time to ask Congress to change the law."

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"At some point in time . . . " Now what do you suppose that means? Time is a pretty nebulous notion, and there are an infinite number of points in it. I'd like to know what particular point in time Admiral Mullen and the other deciders at the Pentagon have in mind. This month? This year? Next year? This term? Next term? Somehow, Admiral Mullen didn't convey a sense of urgency to it.

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I'm all for a "measured, deliberate" path, as Admiral Mullen put it, but at some point the White House has to have a plan to get repeal through this Congress. We have to get beyond mere intent. "Intent" is not a plan and it isn't action and so far President Obama hasn't asked Congress to change the law. The President sent his Defense Department budget up to Congress a couple weeks ago and there was no repeal language in it. That budget will be working its way through Congress over the next several months. There's still time to fix it.

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What we don't need is yet another study or national commission to look at repeal. We all know those commissions involve delay and more delay and "kicking it down the road" more that a little bit. I say, put together a working group within 30 days. Have them focus on implementing open service and charge them to report back to the President within 90 days with a detailed plan and a timeline and how to get it done in this Congress.

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Good intentions and warm handwritten notes from the President will not carry the day. They certainly did not save the career of Lieutenant Sandy Tsao who was scheduled for discharge last week. The Arabic speaking Lieutenant Dan Choi is now at risk of being discharged. Sign his petition. Urge Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley to allow Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach to keep flying. Sign the petition here. Hundreds more service members will be discharged over the next few months unless Congress and the President, and, yes, the Pentagon act.

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Good intentions are no substitute for the change our service members are counting on, especially those who might like to be relieved from a third or fourth or fifth tour in Iraq or Afghanistan. They really don't care much if the person who relieves them is gay. Would you?

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Do I prefer an Obama administration over a McCain/Palin administration? Most definitely. Do I still have respect for Obama rather than seeing him as a cynical liar who used LGBT Americans? No I do not, nor will I believe Obama in the future when he makes nice sounding pro-gay statements. The ONLY way he can regain my respect and trust is to DELIVER on his campaign promises.

Uruguay To End Gays in the Military Ban

It is a pretty sad state of affairs when Uruguay grants more equality to all its citizens than the self-righteous "land of the free and home of the brave." But, that's precisely what is happening now that Uruguay is ending its ban on gays serving in the military - something Barack Obama is afraid to push for lest the Christianists not like him (hasn't he figured out that they will hate him no matter what he does?) Oh, and Uruguay granted civil union rights to same sex couples back in 2007. In short, Uruguay is part of a growing trend where countries that many Americans look down upon in fact grant more civil liberties than those available in the USA. Increasingly, the USA does not live up to its image of a country with abundant freedoms for its citizens. As other nations move forward and become more progressive, the USA stagnate and becomes a false beacon of something less than its claimed ideals. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com on the new developments in Uruguay:

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(Montevido) Uruguay is moving to lift a ban on homosexuals joining the armed forces. The defense ministry confirms that Minister Jose Bayardi has signed a decree lifting the ban imposed by the 1973-85 military dictatorship. The army said Wednesday it has received the decree, which has yet to be signed by President Tabare Vazquez. The law had barred people with what it called “open sexual deviations” from entering the military academies.

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The new decree states that sexual orientation will no longer be considered a reason to prevent people entering the military.