First Gay Pride Event At The Pentagon

Pentagon Holds First Gay Pride Event -- Washington Times

The Pentagon on Tuesday saluted open gays in the ranks, with a civilian lawyer calling on fellow homosexuals to “stretch a little” and become more visible inside the military in the drive for benefits for same-sex couples.

“We need to be as visible as we can be,” Gordon Tanner, principal deputy general counsel of the Air Force, said at the Defense Department’s first gay pride event. “Let us be a bridge to our straight allies.”

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More News On The First Gay Pride Event At The Pentagon

Pentagon Celebrates Gay Pride Month Without Rainbow Flags -- Bloomberg Businessweek
In a first, Pentagon celebrates gay pride -- AFP
Gay Marine goes from being ‘in the closet’ to drinking champagne at White House -- Washington post/AP

A New Mission For Some U.S. Marines

Master Sgt. Anthony Henry, center, and Staff Sgt. Chris Cano told one prospective applicant she needed to lose weight. Michael Stravato for The New York Times

Marines Hit The Ground Running In Seeking Recruits At Gay Center -- New York Times

TULSA, Okla. — Master Sgt. Anthony Henry, a top Marine recruiting trainer for the southwestern United States, pulled up to Tulsa’s biggest gay community center on Tuesday morning and left his Chevy where he could make a fast getaway. “I have an exit strategy,” he said. “I know where my choke points are, I’ve strategically parked my car right on the curbside, I have an out.”

But as it happened, one of the strangest days in the history of the United States Marine Corps unfolded without the protests and insults that Sergeant Henry had feared. Sergeant Henry, who had been invited to set up a recruiting booth on the first day of the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell” at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in downtown Tulsa, instead spent it in quiet conversation with a trickle of gay women who came in to ask about joining the Marines.

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My Comment: I wish them the best, but I doubt that they will be getting a flood of requests to join the Marines.

New Gay Military Magazine At Military Exchange Stores

An article found inside Outserve Magazine.

New Gay Military Magazine Headed for Base Newsstands -- FOX News

With the official repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" less than a month away, members of the military can expect to see a new gay-themed magazine available at military exchange stores on Sept. 20, the same day the repeal goes into effect.



The gay-advocacy group OutServe launched the magazine last Spring and has already produced two editions. The group says its September edition will be available for free at select Army and Air Force bases.



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My Comment: Yup ..... the times are a changing.

Will Military Recruiters Be Told To Prioritize Selecting 'Gays Over Straights'?

Recruiters Pressed To Reach Out To Gays Once Ban Is Lifted -- Washington Times

An underground gay group in the military wants recruiters to reach out to the gay community in the same way they target blacks, Hispanics and women.

The Pentagon’s ban on openly gays members is due to be lifted Sept. 20, meaning avowed gay people can sign up, those in the ranks can come out of the closet and the military will no longer discharge personnel because of sexual preference.

What is unclear is the number of post-ban policies that might be adopted to meet the demands of gays and ease integration of different sexual identities.

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My Comment: The U.S. military .... one big happy affirmative action program.

RAF Policy In the Past Was To 'Cure' Lesbian Recruits

Airwomen: Officers were warned about hockey players

Revealed: How RAF Tried To 'Cure' Lesbian Recruits... And Ordered Officers To Be On Lookout For Women Who Enjoyed Cricket -- The Daily Mail

Secret files have revealed how the RAF forced suspected lesbians to have medical treatment to ‘cure’ their ‘perversion’.

Newly-declassified documents show commanders were told to be alert to airwomen who played cricket or hockey, or spent a lot of time writing letters or telephoning to female comrades – seen as possible signs of attraction to other women.

Officers in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) were also discouraged from recruiting females with ‘masculine characteristics’.

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My Comment: Times have have certainly changed since then.

This Is News?

Photo: Claims: Captain Karen Tait at the tribunal. She says her commanding officer objected to her sexuality

Lesbian Army Captain Sent Home From Afghanistan For Behaving Like A 'Lovestruck Teenager,' Tribunal Told -- The Daily Mail

* Redcap allegedly seen rubbing cream into sergeant's hands
* Officer said behaviour was 'nothing short of criminal'

A lesbian Army captain sent home from Afghanistan after she was accused of an 'inappropriate relationship' with a sergeant was behaving like a 'love struck teenager' and undermining operations, a tribunal heard today.

Karen Tait, 29, who is claiming sexual discrimination against the Ministry of Defence and her commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Deborah Poneskis, upset the chain of command with her 'sly and underhand' behaviour, the employment tribunal in central London heard.

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More News On the Case Of Karen Tait

Lesbian redcap captain sues Army for sending her home after claims of gay front-line affair -- The Daily Mail
Lesbian officer was sent home -- Herald Scotland
Lesbian army captain in Afghanistan sent home after objection over sexuality -- Sify News
Lesbian army officer sent home from Afghanistan over 'relationship' -- The Telegraph

My Comment: Sex sells ... or lesbian sex in this case .... when the real news should be this.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Is Now "Do Ask, Do Tell" On Military Social Networks

Website Aims To Be Facebook For Gays In Military -- Reuters

(Reuters) - After nearly two decades of hearing "don't ask, don't tell," gay U.S. military men and women are now hearing, "do ask, do tell," and even, "find a friend" from a new social network website, Out Military.

Launched just over a week ago at outmilitary.com, the site comes on the heels of President Barack Obama signing a new law repealing the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" rule, established in 1993, that prevented gay men and lesbians from openly serving in the armed forces.

To date, Out Military -- a sort of Facebook for gay and lesbian military men and women -- has only 53 members, but its backers think that will change in the months ahead as the law's repeal takes effect.

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My Comment: I am sure there are many in the military who feel very uncomfortable with this development.

Is "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Dead?

Is The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal DOA? -- Politico

A repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell?” Don’t bet on it.

The window for action on reversing the ban on gays in the military is quickly closing, and the path to undoing the 17-year-old law is riddled with roadblocks: a crowded lame-duck calendar, Democratic defectors, and emboldened Republican senators who have no desire to hand a legislative victory to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

If Democrats fail to pass the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” next month — before Republicans take control of the House in January — it could be years before they get another shot.

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My Comment: With a large number of Democrat senators up for re-election in 2012 (and many of them in Red states).... giving their opponents another issue to be used against them is a path that I am sure many of them do not want to follow.

I expect DADT to be DOA in the Senate, with supporters of DADT then shifting to the courts with the hope that they will do what the legislators are now unwilling to pursue.

Lame Duck Congress To Vote On Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Veteran Evelyn Thomas is arrested after handcuffing herself to a fence at the White House in Washington November 15, 2010. Thomas and twelve others were arrested in their protest against the ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' law that prevents openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. military. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

White House, Democratic Senators Push for DADT Repeal This Year -- Huffington Post

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and several Democratic senators are holding a press conference Thursday morning to "show broad support for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the lame duck session" as part of the National Defense Appropriations Act, according to Lieberman's press secretary Erika Masonhall.

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More News On Congress Pushing For A DADT Repeal

Reid plans Senate vote to end military gay ban -- Reuters
Reid to Seek Senate Votes by Year-End on Immigration Law, Military Gay Ban -- Blomberg
Senate to vote again on military gay ban -- Washington Post/AP
'Don't ask, don't tell' repeal will return to Senate floor, Reid says -- Washington Post
Senate to Take Another Shot at 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- ABC News
Reid Pushes for End to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ -- New York Times
Harry Reid vows votes on DADT, DREAM -- Politico
Obama calls Levin to urge lame-duck 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal -- Politico

My Comment: High unemployment, taxes, trillion dollar deficits, uncontrollable (and unsustainable) growth of government, wars and terrorism .... all of this plays second fiddle to repealing DADT and pushing amnesty for illegals. Two weeks after being destroyed in Congressional and state elections .... this White House and their supporters in Congress are still deaf, dumb, and blind too all with the exception of their base who support these social policies.

Pentagon Study: Little Risk If Gays Openly Serve In Military

Sources: Pentagon Group Finds There Is Minimal Risk To Lifting Gay Ban During War -- Washington Post

A Pentagon study group has concluded that the military can lift the ban on gays serving openly in uniform with only minimal and isolated incidents of risk to the current war efforts, according to two people familiar with a draft of the report, which is due to President Obama on Dec. 1.

More than 70 percent of respondents to a survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops over the summer said the effect of repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent, said two sources familiar with the document. The survey results led the report's authors to conclude that objections to openly gay colleagues would drop once troops were able to live and serve alongside them.

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More News On DADT

End to US military gay ban 'would not harm war effort' -- BBC
Lifting gay ban during war poses little risk to troops, study finds -- CNN
Ending military gay ban 'won't harm war effort' -- AFP
Report: Little Risk To War From Gays In Combat -- NPR/AP
Little Risk in Lifting Ban on Gays in Military, Pentagon Survey Reportedly Finds -- Politics Daily
And the Pentagon Survey Says ... Troops Think Being Openly Gay Isn’t That Big a Deal -- New York Magazine

The New Marine Commandant Disagrees With The Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs

Photo: Gen. James Amos

'Don't Ask' Should Stay For Now, New Marine Commandant Says -- L.A. Times

Gen. James Amos says lifting the ban on openly gay service members might hurt unit cohesion and combat readiness.

Reporting from San Diego — With U.S. troops — including 20,000 Marines — locked in a "tough fight" in Afghanistan, now is not the time to lift the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military, the new commandant of the Marine Corps said Saturday.

Gen. James Amos told reporters in San Diego that he was concerned about a possible loss of unit cohesion and combat readiness if the ban is overturned.

"There's risk involved," Amos said. "I'm trying to determine how to measure that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness."

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My Comment: A blunt and straightforward opinion from the new Marine Commandant. Not surprisingly, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is surprised.

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' To Continue Pending Appeal

Military Policy on Gays to Stand, Pending Appeal -- New York Times

A federal appeals court will allow the military to continue enforcing the law restricting the service of openly gay men and women in the military while a lower court decision that struck the law down as unconstitutional is being appealed.

A federal judge in California, Virginia A. Phillips, ruled on Sept. 9 that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law violated the equal protection and First Amendment rights of service members, and wrote that it had a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services. On Oct. 12, she ordered the military to stop enforcing the law nationwide.

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More News On The Appeals Court Allowing The Military To Continue DADT

Appeals court extends life of gay military policy -- AP
Appellate panel says 'don't ask, don't tell' should stay during appeal -- CNN
Don't Ask, Don't Tell can stay in effect, judges say -- L.A. Times
Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy Remains In Effect, Court Rules -- NPR
Court extends gay military ban pending appeal -- BBC
Court stays 'don't ask' ruling enforcement -- UPI
Appeals Court Rules 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Policy Can Remain in Effect -- ABC News
'Don't ask' will be the law until at least spring -- San Francisco Chronicle
Federal appeals court keeps 'Don't ask, Don't tell' policy in place -- The Hill

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Reinstated By The Federal Appeals Court

Federal Appeals Court Reinstates 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- ABC News

Gay Military Service Members Must Again Hide Sexual Orientation

A federal appeals court Wednesday reinstated "don't ask, don't tell," the military's policy forbidding openly gay troops from serving.

A three-judge panel granted the Justice Department's emergency request to allow the policy to remain on the books so that the appeals court could have more time to fully consider the issues presented.

A Pentagon spokeswoman applauded the panel's decision.

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More News On The Reinstatement of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Gays in limbo as US court reinstates military ban -- Yahoo News/AFP
Appeals court grants stay of 'don't ask' injunction -- Washington Post
'Don't ask, don't tell' back in force after appeals court issues stay -- Christian Science Monitor
After 8 Long Days of Asking and Telling, DADT Is Back in Effect - For Now -- Time Magazine
US appeals court stays ruling on gays in the military -- The Guardian
Stay granted in 'don't ask, don't tell' case -- Politico
Administration can resume "don't ask" discharges - for now -- San Francisco Chronicle
Pentagon trying to change culture to allow gays -- Yahoo News/AP

My Comment: As we predicted yesterday .... it did not take long for the U.S. Appeals Court to overturn a lower court's ruling on this issue.

White House Requests Emergency Stay Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Order

Justice Department Asks Appeals Court To Overturn 'Don't Ask' Injunction -- L.A. Times

The motion calls on the appeals court to lift a judge's order immediately. The government says the 'extraordinary decision' went too far, too fast and is causing 'confusion and uncertainty' in the Pentagon and among gays and lesbians in the ranks.

Reporting from Washington —
The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal appeals court in San Francisco to quickly set aside a judge's order that bars enforcement of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, saying the judge's "extraordinary decision" went too far, too fast.

The 25-page motion says the appeals court should lift the judge's order Wednesday.

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More News On 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

U.S. Files Appeal to Restore 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- Wall Street Journal
Obama requests emergency stay of 'don't ask, don't tell' order -- CNN
U.S. Asks Court To Suspend 'Don't Ask' Ruling -- NPR/AP
Gay recruits allowed to enlist -- for now -- Stars And Stripes
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': An End to Court Deference to the Military? -- Michael A. Lindenberger, Time Magazine

U.S. Military To Accept Openly Gay Recruits

A recruiting station in Times Square, New York. A judge ruled that the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was illegal. Photograph: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

No Delay For 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ruling, So Pentagon Takes Gays - For Now -- Christian Science Monitor

A federal judge refuses to suspend last week's ruling that the Pentagon must stop enforcement of 'don't ask, don't tell.' So the Pentagon says it will comply and accept openly gay recruits. But it cautions that the ruling is being appealed.

A federal judge in California refused on Tuesday to postpone a worldwide injunction issued last week blocking enforcement of the Defense Department’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy banning gays from serving openly in the military.

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More News On The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ruling

Military recruiters told to accept gay applicants -- Yahoo News/AP
Pentagon tells recruiters: You must accept gays -- Reuters
Military to accept openly gay recruits -- USA Today
Judge Refuses to Suspend Ruling Barring 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- ABC News
US military accepts gay troops for the first time in 17 years -- The Telegraph
US military accepts openly gay recruit -- The Guardian
'Don't ask' judge refuses to stay ruling -- San Francisco Chronicle
Pentagon instructing recruiters to accept gay applicants -- The Washington Post
US military ready to accept gay applicants: Pentagon -- AFP
Pentagon Starts Accepting Applications From Gays -- Wall Street Journal
The Widow Judge Who Ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- Time Magazine
Timeline: Chronology of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy -- Reuters

My Comment: Against the advice of all the military chiefs, national security specialists, and even the White House .... a judge decides to be an advocate on the bench for a policy that will be appealed and probably overturned.

In the interim, this highlights (once again) that when judges decide to pursue policies that are against the will of most of the people, bitterness and recriminations will be the result. The proper procedure is to go through Congress where law makers are answerable to the public for their legislation .... or lack of.

Pentagon To Obey Court Order To End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Pentagon To Comply With Court Order To End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- Washington Post

The Pentagon announced Thursday that it will comply with a court order to stop enforcing its "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring gays from serving openly in the military, even as the Obama administration asked a federal judge to delay implementation of the ruling.

Officials say they need time to institute new policies to ensure that the change won't affect combat readiness or morale. The administration has said it will appeal the ruling to the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

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More News On The Pentagon Complying With The Judge's Ruling On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Pentagon cites 'uncertainty' about future of 'don't ask' -- Washington Post
Pentagon to Comply With Ruling to Halt ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy -- New York Magazine
Pentagon halts enforcement of gay ban amid legal challenge to 'don't ask, don't tell' policy -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Obama seeks to delay lifting of US gay military ban -- AFP
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell . . . But Do Appeal -- Wall Street Journal
Robert Gates warns of 'don't ask' 'consequences' -- Politico
Q&A: What is the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy? -- AP

My Comment: On the one hand, Sec. of Defense Gates says there will be consequences if DADT is imposed on the military. On the other, the Pentagon that he runs will not enforce DADT even though the White House will appeal the judge's ruling.

Figures.

Obama Administration To Appeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Court Ruling

Critics say the law violates the rights of gay military personnel and has harmed US national security. Photo AFP

Judge Orders U.S. Military to Stop ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ -- New York Times

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the United States military to stop enforcing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving.

Judge Virginia A. Phillips of Federal District Court for the Central District of California issued an injunction banning enforcement of the law and ordered the military to immediately “suspend and discontinue” any investigations or proceedings to dismiss service members.

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More News On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Obama administration appeals gay marriage ruling -- Reuters
Obama team faces tough politics on gay rights legal issue -- USA Today
Judge acts while others debate Pentagon gay policy -- AP
Court orders US to stop enforcing gay military ban -- AFP

My Comment: With Congressional elections only 3 weeks away, this is an issue that no Democrat wants to touch. But with a disaster being predicted at the polls for President Obama's political party, they had no choice but to act.

Cirtic Of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Discharged From The Army

Lt. Dan Choi, a leader in the fight against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Muncy for News

Army Discharges Lt. Dan Choi, Gay Soldier And Critic Of Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy -- New York Daily News

Lt. Dan Choi, the gay soldier whose become the chief critic of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, said Thursday he's been booted by the Pentagon.

Choi, an Iraq war veteran and West Point grad, found no honor in the honorable discharged he got from the Army.

"After 11 years since beginning my journey at West Point and after 17 months of serving openly as an infantry officer this is both an infuriating and painful announcement," said Choi, of Manhattan.

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My Comment: With a tight election cycle expected for November, many in Washington do not want this to be an issue front and center with their constituents. Lt. Dan Choi was one of the most vocal in wanting to repeal DADT .... therefore his dismissal was only a matter of time ... and better now instead of October/November.

Gay Groups Are Concerned That Soldier Survey Will Lead To Segregation

Pentagon: Gay Soldier Survey Won't Lead To Segregation -- CBS News

The Pentagon today strongly pushed back against an allegation from a prominent political blogger that the military could segregate gay and straight servicemembers if and when lawmakers repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The suggestion the Defense Department or the Obama administration could allow for segregation of any kind is "absurd," a Pentagon spokesperson said.

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My Comment: You know that when news like this makes the main stream media .... the silly summer season is in full bloom.

Will Polling U.S. Troops On The Issue Of Gays In The Military Make A Difference?

KANDAHAR COMPOUND - Members of the International Security Assistance Force provide security on a compound in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, July 2, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Christian Palermo

Why Is The Military Polling The Troops About Gays? -- Time Magazine

When Harry Truman wanted to integrate blacks into the U.S. military in 1948, he simply ordered it done. When the Navy wanted women on ships beginning in 1978, it commanded its admirals to do so. When the Clinton Pentagon decided women should become fighter pilots, it issued orders telling the military to make it happen. For generations, the military mind-set has been, If we want you to have an opinion, we'll issue you one. So why is the Pentagon asking troops how they'll feel if forced to serve alongside openly gay comrades?

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My Comment: So much for showing leadership from the top.

But on the flip side there is "some logic" in this process. Many of the men and women who now serve for the military have an education that is unsurpassed in the history of the U.S. Arm Forces. With social networks like Facebook, websites, blogs, and the 24/7 media universe .... opinions and altitudes will be known very quickly .... and quite often annonymously. Participating in polls will defuse some disagreement .... but only so much.

Bottom line .... I am very skeptical that polling what men and women in the uniform are thinking will make a difference on issues like "don't ask, don't tell". If President Obama and Congress wants this issue to pass .... it will pass regardless of what is the majority opinion in the military .... and on this issue everyone knows that they want it.

But why are they still doing this? I believe that they are just laying the groundwork on how to best sell their agenda. But to do so they will need information and background material to know what is palatable .... and getting it through polls is the best way to accomplish this.