Tag Archives: compromise

Lt. Dan Choi: "DO NOT CELEBRATE COMPROMISES"

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Right on Dan!
Interestingly I have read on may people saying that there is a “split witin the gay community” over the “compromise”  . But EVERY blog and comment board I’ve read is overwhelmingly of the belief that this compromise is not a full repeal and that it does nothing to end the discriminatory policy. The split is between the LGBT community, and those organizations within the beltway that have completely lost touch with their constituencies.
Dan Choi will be on the Joy Behar Show tonight to discuss the DADT “compromise”.

Servicemembers United and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Praise The DADT Compromise. But Is This "Take What We Can Get" Attitude The Reason Why Our Battle For FULL LGBT Rights Fail?

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Last night both Servicemembers United and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network praised the Obama Administration and the “compromise” that has been reached to attached the DADT repeal  to the Department of Defense authorization bill later this week. The only REAL problem is, is that its not a repeal at all. 

Richard Socarides, a lawyer, and former senior adviser to President Clinton states his concerns.

“I am concerned, however, that the bill released tonight is being mis-characterized. I was expecting to see a bill providing for repeal of DADT now with delayed implementation. As far as I can tell, the proposed legislation instead makes repeal conditional on a future discretionary certification which may or may not occur.

In a nutshell what will happen with the “compromise” is that House and Senate will pass legislation this year that provides that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be considered repealed if and when the following happens:

1. The Secretary of Defense receives the “study.
2. The President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that:
– They have considered the recommendations in the study
– DOD has prepared the necessary policies and regulations needed to implement a repeal
– The implementation of the repeal is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.

Current policy will remain in place until the above conditions are satisfied. And if the above conditions are never satisfied, the current DADT policy will remain in place.

The civil rights activists of the 1960’s didn’t fight for possible freedom, they fought for their rights, all of them.

This isn’t even a tiny step forward, it is the promise of a tiny step forward. And it could just lead to this senario.

– Congress will pass the non-repeal repeal (“we did something!”)
– HRC will say they were instrumental (“we delivered!”)
– Obama will say “yes we can!”
– The military will say “wait for the study”

Ultimately, the repeal will likely not happen at all; suppose the “study” comes back with “we need more time”, or “retention could be affected”, or any other lame excuse; in that case, Obama will then say “sorry, we tried”, and everybody covered their ass and we are left holding the bag because once again we got an erection when someone waved a crumb in front of our nose.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

This is a sham in my opinion and we need to continue fighting them tooth and nail and continue protesting until they acquiesce and get rid of this stupid law and all the others that deny us what should rightfully be ours,  EQUALITY. And  if this is the best we can get as citizens of this country and what those in the LGBT Community are willing to settle for then, then we need to vote out these homophobic political buffoons and start all over again with our LGBT organizations and strategy

We should not have to ask permission for our rights, WE SHOULD DEMAND THEM!

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Compromise Happening In DC. – Would Repeal Statute, Delay Implementation, Require Certification from POTUS, Military – In Other Words Its SH*T!

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This morning at the White House and on Capitol Hill that could help clear the way for the“don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal to be attached to the Department of Defense authorization bill later this week.  Just attached mind you, because if its passed it won’t do jack shit for a year and then would require certification by three people who are falling all over themselves to kill repeal, and authority for implementation back to the Pentagon — which has been the center of resistance all along.

Okay here’s what happened and some details via Kerry Eleveld

A White House aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the White House meeting. “Our understanding is that Congress is determined to act this week and we are learning more about their proposal now,” said the aide.  A Democratic leadership aide called the development “promising” but said discussions are ongoing. The House Democratic leadership is expected to meet about the proposal later this afternoon.  According to one person familiar with the White House meeting, the proposal that is being considered would repeal the current statute this year, but implementation of repeal would not take place until after completion of the Pentagon’s working group study in December. Further, repeal would require certification from President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mike Mullen that the new law will not have a negative impact on readiness, recruitment, retention and other key factors that affect the military.

The language would not include a nondiscrimination policy but rather will return authority for open service by gays and lesbians back to the Pentagon.

A Statement of Administration Policy is expected to be released this week, potentially as early as tomorrow

One repeal advocate welcomed news of the agreement.

“Every single one of the groups around that table agreed that this is an amazing step forward,” said the person, who was close to the discussions at the White House and spoke on the condition of anonymity

“The language would not include a nondiscrimination policy but rather will return authority for open service by gays and lesbians back to the Pentagon. “?

This sentence alone means we as a community should not support this compromise, because in reality it turns all authority over to the Pentagon and military brass to continue an internal DADT policy that outsiders from within the legislative/executive branches can wash their hands. There’s nothing in this piece of legislation to prevent it, so while it may overturn the law that’s on the Federal books, it does nothing to allow LGBT service members to serve openly, with dignity, with recognition of family and friends, or any equal benefits to be bestowed upon them. I see nothing but a sheep in wolves clothing, and this is politics at its worst.

And as for “”Every single one of the groups around that table agreed that this is an amazing step forward.”  Who the HRC?  The NGLTF?  Please! HRC/NGLTF would say that a big steaming pile of crap was an “amazing step forward” Get a clue the HRC/NGLTF DOES NOT represent us anymore.

I’ll believe this is an amazing step forward when Dan Choi and the hundreds of thousands who have been discharged un DADT say it’s an amazing step forward.   As for Joe Solmonese and Rea Carey, on the other hand, can go fuck themselves in thier designer suits and Birkenstocks.