Earlier today Robert Gates announced changes in the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy effective immediately which basically comes down to unless you are wearing Freedom Rings and waving a rainbow flag it will be much harder for lesbians and gay men to be discharged under the current DADT policy.

From The New York Times:

The changes raise the level of officer authorized to initiate a fact-finding inquiry into a case, the level of officer who can conduct an inquiry and of the one that can authorize a dismissal. To discourage the use of overheard statements or hearsay, from now on any evidence given in third-party outings must be given under oath, Gates said. Cases of third-party outings also have included instances in which male troops have turned in women who rejected their romantic advances or jilted partners in relationship have turned in a former lover. Some kinds of confidential information also will no longer be allowed, including statements gays make to their lawyers, clergy, psychotherapists or medical professionals in the pursuit of health care.”

Said Gates: “I do not recommend a change in the law before we have completed our study. There is a great deal we don’t know about this…there is a lot we have to address in terms of what would be required in the way of changed regulations, in terms of benefits. There are a lot of unanswered questions in terms of the implementation of this proposed change in the law.”

In reference to the last paragraph Gates basically said this morning, categorically, that he does not want Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repealed this year, until every little detail, report, and issued is raised which could take YEARS, if it happens at all because, and mark my words on this,  many who oppose the idea will say now that its harder to discharge gays and lesbians why go through the bother.  (Other than the fact that it’s WRONG)

So enter Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign who PRAISED Gates’ comments, suggesting that they were a “positive step toward repeal this year.” (Did he READ the same statement?  How in the world did he get “this year” out of that? Hey Joe! Reading comprehension is your friend!)

Of course, HRC won’t criticize Gates because President Obama signed off on Gates’ DADT statement this morning. And we all know where HRC’s loyalty lies.  Obama and the Democrats first, us second, or possibly third. When the Secretary of Defense says no, and the President of the United States is either too busy or scared to defend his own campaign promise, or worse, complicit in undercutting our civil rights, very few members of Congress are going to disagree. And obviouly the HRC doesn’t give a shit.

Solmonese and the HRC has been warned repeatedly that the Democrats are expecting an electoral bloodbath in the November congressional elections, including the distinct possibility that the Republicans will take over the US House and they pissed away the two year window that we had to make any stides by having cocktails with Obama and kissing ass. because if the Dems lose Congress, the House, and the Presidency in 2012 in plain language the fight fopr our rights is dommed.

It’s time to hold the HRC accountable for it’s failure.  Not only the most recent failures of the past few years but the past 30 years of wasted time and millions upon millions oif dollars in our donations it has squandered and mispent getting us no where fast.  As long as the HRC stands up and says it represents us, it IS accountable to us.

It’s time for us to take our stand against the HRC and DEMAND change within the organization and with the organization itself.

The question is who’ll stand with me?