HRC to Obama: End DADT This Year

The Human Rights Campaign released an open letter to President Barack Obama on Monday urging him to take action to end "don't ask, don't tell" this year.

Calling this fall a "pivotal period" in the history of the fight for LGBT equality, HRC president Joe Solmonese asked President Obama to reverse the policy's judicial course and inform the courts that the administration believes the law is unconstitutional, and to put the full weight of his office behind the languishing effort to pass repeal in the Senate.

If the judicial and legislative tracks falter, Solmonese asked Obama to be prepared to issue a stop-loss order to suspend enforcement of "don't ask, don't tell."

"You can and should issue a stop-loss order suspending enforcement of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" wrote Solmonese. "This discriminatory law has already deprived our military thousands of service members, many with critical skills in fighting terrorism. You have acknowledged that it harms our national security. If we fail to achieve legislative repeal this year, and if you will not abandon the defense of this discriminatory law in court, then it is imperative that you use your clear authority as President to end the discharges. Anything less is unacceptable."

Read the full text of the HRC letter to President Obama here.