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.
A White House official sent a letter Monday evening approving a new legislative compromise that would repeal "don't ask, don't tell" this year but keep the current policy in place until the Pentagon's working group study is completed and the president, secretary of Defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs sign off on implementation.
"The Administration is of the view that the proposed amendment meets the concerns raised by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," wrote Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The proposal under consideration would legislatively repeal the statute this year, but the current policy would remain in place and implementation of repeal would be contingent on two occurrences: completion of the Pentagon's review due in December and certification from President Barack Obama, Defense secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs chair Adm. Mike Mullen that the new law will not have a negative impact on readiness, recruitment, retention, and other key factors affecting the military.
The language would not include an automatic nondiscrimination policy but rather will return authority of the regulations for open service by gays and lesbians to the Pentagon.
In the letter Orszag wrote that "ideally" the Pentagon's review of implementation would be completed before Congress takes legislative action, but adds, "the Administration understands that Congress has chosen to move forward with legislation now ... "
The letter came in response to a request for White House input from pro-repeal lawmakers who have been working to build support for repeal this year.
Pro-repeal advocates welcomed the announcement immediately.
"We are on the brink of historic action to both strengthen our military and respect the service of lesbian and gay troops," said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese.
Aubrey Sarvis of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network called the development a "dramatic breakthrough" that should help produce the votes necessary for repeal measures to be attached to the Department of Defense authorization bill in the House and Senate.
"The path forward crafted by the president, Department of Defense officials, and repeal leaders on Capitol Hill respects the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service and allows for a vote this week," Sarvis said. "President Obama's support and Secretary Gates's buy-in should ensure a winning vote, but we are not there yet."
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
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
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
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
25 pics of hot, shirtless celebs just to remind us of warmer weather
January 14 2024 10:47 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
Why I'm protecting privacy in our connected world
May 13 2024 8:00 PM
Here's when 'Heartstopper' season 3 is coming out
May 13 2024 6:25 PM
Black trans woman Kita Bee killed in hit-and-run in Kansas City
May 13 2024 5:41 PM
Third lesbian killed after boardinghouse arson attack in Argentina
May 13 2024 2:43 PM
No, transphobes, Lia Thomas didn't cause the U.S. swimming team to almost quit
May 13 2024 1:44 PM
The queerest education in America: How LGBTQ+ kids thrive at this Indiana school
May 13 2024 6:00 AM