tagged w/ Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal
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Capt. Owen Honors is relieved of command for 'lack of good judgment and professionalism.' The incident highlights the military's cultural struggle as it faces repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell.'
(click on the link for the full article)Capt. Owen Honors is relieved of command for 'lack of good judgment and... more
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By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate on Saturday ended Clinton-era law, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a 17-year policy of banning gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in the military.
Six Republicans initially crossed the aisle to vote against the policy: Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
The Senate vote is a vindication of Obama’s decision to push for congressional repeal as opposed to unilateral executive action, though activists note he could have done both.
http://www.theblogismine.com/2010/12/20/senate-votes-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate on... more
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A flight nurse discharged for being gay could win the right to return the U.S. Air Force - six years after her dismissal.
U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said he would rule this Friday whether former Major Margaret Witt would be reinstated, despite ruling against her in a case in 2006.
Then, Leighton rejected Witt's claims that the Air Force violated her rights when it fired her under the 'don't ask, don't tell' law.
But an appeals court panel overruled Leighton two years later, concluding that the military could not fire people for being gay unless it showed that their dismissal was necessary 'to further military goals'.
As support grows for repealing the ban on openly gays in the military, the judge expressed doubts about her dismissal.
However his comments came hours after Senate Republicans blocked legislation to repeal the 1993 'don't ask, don't tell' law on gays serving in the military.
Witt joined the Air Force in 1987 and was a flight nurse with an aeromedical evacuation squadron responsible for transporting and caring for injured soldiers.
She was suspended in 2004, just before she was due to retire, when her commanders learned she was in a relationship with a civilian woman.
In the latest trial Witt's attorneys, led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, insisted that Witt was well respected and liked by her colleagues, that her sexuality never caused problems in the unit, and that her dismissal actually hurt military goals such as morale, unit cohesion and troop readiness.
Several members of the squadron testified that this was true, and said they would welcome Witt back to the unit.
James Lobsenz, an attorney for Witt, said in his closing argument that the government presented no evidence that Witt would cause problems if returned to her unit.
It was unconscionable, he said, that she had had to conceal her sexuality for years even though she had won awards for distinguished service in evacuating and treating wounded troops and government employees from Afghanistan and elsewhere.A flight nurse discharged for being gay could win the right to return the U.S. Air... more
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A Flash Protest was held at Christopher Newport University calling for the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't TellA Flash Protest was held at Christopher Newport University calling for the Repeal of... more
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Senior Pentagon leaders on Friday warned Congress not to tamper with the ban on gays serving openly in the military until he can come up with a plan for dealing with potential opposition in the ranks.
In a strongly worded letter obtained by The Associated Press, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee that forcing policy changes on the military before it's ready would be a mistake.
"Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully," Gates and Mullen wrote to the panel's chairman, Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton.
Gay rights advocates want legislation this year that would freeze military firings of openly gay service members, and some senior Democratic senators have said they want to offer such a bill.
But other lawmakers, including Skelton, have said they are uneasy about lifting the ban and don't want to act before the force is ready.
More @ linkSenior Pentagon leaders on Friday warned Congress not to tamper with the ban on gays... more
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Obama Heckled By ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Opponents
AP/Huffington Post
04-20-10
LOS ANGELES — Opponents of the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy on gays in the military interrupted President Barack Obama with heckling at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer.
VIDEO… Pres. Obama Heckled By Gay Military ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Opponents…http://ctpatriot1970.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/video-pres-obama-heckled-by-gay-military-dont-ask-dont-tell-opponents/
The protesters shouted to ask Obama what he is going to do about the policy, which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military. Multiple times, the shouts grew so insistent that Obama responded.Obama Heckled By ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Opponents... more
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