The Conclusion: Exclusive Audio Interview withGay Ally Rev. Makokha about Christian Leaders
from America transporting homophobia to Africa
@ OUTTAKE VOICES™
After a roller coaster ride yesterday the Senate Republicans camethrough in their predictable fashion & blocked the repeal of ‘Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell’. The push for repeal fell 3 votes short of the 60
needed to overcome a filibuster. Maine Republican Susan Collins
joined 54 Democrats & two independents in backing the repeal with
40 senators voting against including Massachusetts Senator Scott
Brown who reversed his decision revealing his true homophobic
self. This potentially dooms any chance for overturning the 17 year
old unconstitutional military policy in 2010. Updates to Come….
Hear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
2 comments:
The Senate's inaction on the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not only disappointing, it undermines our national security and continues the unfair practice of discharging critical and skilled service members. Today the media needs to amplify the voices of those patriotic and dedicated personnel being unfairly discharged simply because of who they are as well as the overwhelming support from the public and high-ranking military officials to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.
Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Despite hundreds of thousands of calls and emails demanding an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" – and despite military leaders imploring the Senate to repeal the law this year instead of leaving it to the courts – the Senate today voted to leave prejudice and bigotry on the books.
Since it appears Congress won't repeal the law this year, the fate of lesbian and gay service members now rests in President Obama's hands. To make good on his commitment to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2010, President Obama needs to immediately issue a stop-loss order halting military discharges. At the same time, the Administration must immediately cease defending DADT in federal court.
In his State of the Union address last January, President Obama said he would work with Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this year. But despite the House successfully voting to repeal the law, the Senate continued its filibuster.
Now it's up to President Obama to clean up Congress's mess. And the first step is for his administration to stop defending the law in court and embroiling "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in seemingly endless legal wrangling.
Also, as Commander in Chief, the President can issue an executive order to retain any soldier deemed necessary in a time of war – even though Congress has failed to remove the law from the books. President Obama must issue that order and end the discharges now.
We need President Obama to take immediate action to end this law that has hurt our families, our soldiers, and our national security by costing us thousands of the best and brightest service members who should be defending our nation.
Joe Solmonese, President Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
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