Congress pressures Pentagon on eve of gays-in-the-military debate

[ruggerson]

Source: San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

SANTA BARBARA) Ninety-six members of Congress today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates requesting all 2009 "don't ask, don't tell" discharge data, in an effort to ready their arguments for the impending 2010 debate on the gay ban.

Authored by Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), a member of the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee, the letter was signed by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), lead sponsor of the bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Members are requesting up-to-date information on the number of service members discharged in 2009 under the Obama Administration, as well as information about their job specialties, years of service and branch in which they served. This request comes as supporters of the DADT repeal in Congress are collecting information to prepare for the upcoming House and Senate debate on the issue in 2010.

<snip>

"It's clear that some in Washington are looking for ways to avoid discussing DADT in 2010,” said UC Santa Barbara professor, Aaron Belkin. Belkin is also the author of the 2003 book, Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Exploring the Debates on the Gay Ban in the U.S. Military. “This letter from 96 Congressional offices keeps the pressure on the White House, Pentagon and Congress by illustrating the costs of discrimination with concrete data."


Read more: http://sdgln.com/news/2009/12/23/congress-pressures-pentagon-eve-gays-military-debate

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[BP2]

2. Why isn't Barack pressuring the Pentagon? There's

absolutely no reason he should continue to prohibit gays or lesbians from serving if they choose to.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Why would Rick Warren and Donnie McClurkin's pal ever lift a finger to help LGBTs

Obama's deeds have centered in having DOJ defend DOMA.

[Jamastiene]

4. If they'll repeal DADT next, I'll STFU for 1 whole week about them.

Maybe even longer if they pay reparations to GLBT people who served honorably in our military but were treated badly simply because of the discrimination of DADT. :grouphug:

[No Elephants]

5. President Obama, use your Constitutional and statutory authority to suspend DADT discharges

indefinitely. Congress, repeal DADT.

This is disgraceful.