CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The U.S. House of Representatives and a Senate panel have both approved measures that would begin the process of dismantling the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits gays and lesbians for serving openly in the military.
After a heated Thursday night floor debate, House members voted 234 to 194 to approve a repeal amendment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act sponsored by Pennsylvania representative Patrick Murphy.
"Tonight, Congress took a historic step toward repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' and toward ensuring that every American has the same opportunity I did to defend our nation," said Murphy, who served as an Army paratrooper. "Patriotic Americans willing to take a bullet for their country should never be forced to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love."
Earlier Thursday evening, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a companion amendment by a 16-12 vote in a closed-door session.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the lone Republican on the committee joining 15 of her Democratic colleagues to approve the measure as an attachment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia was the only Democrat to vote against it.
If signed into law as part of the defense funding bill, the measure would not immediately repeal the law. "Don't ask, don't tell" would continue as the official policy of the military until two events occur: the Pentagon completes an implementation study due in December; and the secretary of Defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and President Barack Obama certify that repeal will not weaken military readiness. Once those two requirements are met, a 60-day waiting period will begin before the policy is finally lifted.
Repeal advocates celebrated the historic vote even as they acknowledged that it was one step in what promises to be a multitiered process.
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the pro-repeal Servicemembers Legal Defense Network hailed Democrats for persevering in the face of opposition from the military's leadership.
"Chairman Carl Levin and Sen. Joe Lieberman showed remarkable courage and steadfastness in the face of unprecedented and inappropriate last minute lobbying by the Pentagon service chiefs who seemed to have forgotten that they are not the policy makers here," he said.
But Sarvis also cautioned that the road to repeal was not over.
"The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee passed a historic road map to allowing open military service, but it doesn't end the discharges," he said. "It is important for all gay and lesbian active duty service members, including the reserves and the National Guard, to know they're at risk. They must continue to serve in silence under the 'don't ask, don't tell' law that remains on the books."
Some activists expressed concerns about the last-minute 60-day concession that was made to secure the vote of West Virginia senator Robert Byrd. But Alex Nicholson, executive director of the gay veterans group Servicemembers United, said the extra time would delay but ultimately not disrupt the repeal process.
"It is our understanding that the additional 60 days are just an extra cushion added into the delayed implementation timeline," said Nicholson. Once the certification letter is signed and transmitted to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, he added, "the 60-day clock starts, and when it runs out, then the new law goes into effect automatically."
Once the Pentagon working group issues its review, Fred Sainz, vice president of communications for the Human Rights Campaign, said he expects the process to proceed with dispatch.
"The experience of foreign militaries and dozens of studies have been that gays and lesbians should be integrated into the military immediately," he said. "Following the completion of the study, we expect that the administration will proceed expeditiously."
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, stoked concerns of repeal advocates after he was quoted Thursday saying the certification process -- or the "trigger" -- would give military leadership control over whether to finally repeal the policy.
"That trigger is to certify whether we should move ahead with that change, even if the law were to repeal it," reported the American Forces Press Service.
But a spokesman for Mullen said the chairman's quote was misinterpreted and that he remains personally committed to repeal.
"What he was trying to articulate there is that the draft legislation provides the department the ability to complete the review, exercise our own discretion with respect to new policies and regulations, and certify that we are ready for implementation before the policy can take effect," Capt. John Kirby told The Advocate. "There is no doubt in the chairman's mind that the president's intent and desire is to repeal the policy."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Trans man Tee Arnold shot to death in Florida
April 17 2024 4:41 PM
Can scientific research on the causes of homosexuality be used against LGBTQ+ people?
April 17 2024 4:02 PM
George Takei releases kids' book about his childhood in internment camp
April 17 2024 3:18 PM
PLUS
ExclusivesTodrick Hall on surviving the rumors and remembering where he came from
April 17 2024 2:33 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedHow The Pride Store celebrates National Tea Day: A tale of two brews
April 17 2024 2:14 PM
'Parents' Rights' movements forget families have the right to read LGBTQ+ books
April 17 2024 10:15 AM
This gay man had to flee Ghana after a violent attack. He’s finally been granted asylum
April 17 2024 9:17 AM