Gays Against the DADT Compromise

Three gay men have launched a Facebook page aimed at putting pressure on legislators to not agree to compromises that make up part of the deal on congressional repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."

The page, "Call Swarm Now: Say No to DADT Repeal Compromise," launched early Tuesday morning and had 225 confirmed guests as of Tuesday afternoon. Contact information is included on the page for Rep. Patrick Murphy, the sponsor of the DADT repeal legislation in the House, and senators Joseph Lieberman and Carl Levin, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who helped spearhead the compromise legislation that's expected to be voted on this week. The bill would repeal DADT, but the policy wouldn't effectively end until the Pentagon completes a yearlong review of how to implement the new policy of allowing openly gay soldiers. The president, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates would have to sign off on the review before DADT is repealed.

The facilitator of the Facebook page, Los Angeles-based Daniel Fotou, explained that he and two other gay activists — David John Fleck and Alan

Bounville

— launched the page to encourage people to push the politicians on three points they feel aren't addressed in the pending repeal legislation. The language the group wants added, according to the page, consists of:

"1. Timeline with firm implementation date, no later than six months
after the conclusion of the study in December 2010;

2.
Non-discrimination language be included to protect LGBT members from
discrimination based on sexual orientation;

3. Stop-Loss on all
discharges under the current DADT law."

"Without a timeline, there is an opportunity for delay
tactics," Fotou said. He added, "Where is the idea of nondiscrimination
in this [bill] if they can remove the language, but repeal DADT. Where’s the
protection?"

Fotou stressed that he, Fleck and Bounville were happy that movement was being made on repeal.

"We very much appreciate the commitment that Murphy and
Lieberman and Levin are making to see DADT repealed," he said. "It just
concerns us that this compromise is removing some very important commitments to
ensuring the repeal happens in a timely manner."