It's Official: DADT Repeal Has Been Certified

I almost can't believe it. Sixty days until that horrible piece of institutional bigotry is dead.

Blub.

I have several close friends (including a regular Shaker, who may identify himself in comments if he feels so inclined) who have served this country in the military, forced to secret a part of themselves by the country they loved so much they were willing to lay their lives on the line to protect it, to fight for freedom and equality they weren't even granted themselves.

They are some of the greatest patriots I have ever known, and nothing honors their service better than making sure that no one ever has to serve in a closet again.

Good riddance, DADT.

The End of DADT at Long Last...?

The Pentagon will reportedly certify the end of DADT today. Once Obama signs off on the certification, DADT would be officially over in 60 days.

The military finally recognizing out troops will also put pressure on the federal government to repeal DOMA, in order to formally recognize the spouses of married gay troops.

*titters with anticipation*

Obama Asks Court to Keep DADT a Little Longer

Ugh. Despite the Pentagon having suspended separation of LGB troops under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in compliance with a court order, the Obama administration is now asking the federal appeals court "to reconsider its order" because: "The Armed Forces are moving forward expeditiously to prepare for the repeal of [DADT] in a fashion that Congress and the President consider the most effective way possible, and consistent with the nation's military needs," but the court order "cuts that process short and overrides the judgments of Congress and the President on a complex and important question of military policy."

For fuck's sake.

The case has put the Obama administration in an unusual position of supporting a repeal, but at the same time filing court motions to prevent it from happening faster than planned. Military officials suggest the policy compliance changes eliminating "don't ask, don't tell" could be finished in a few weeks.

More for fuck's sake.

There is conceivably a legitimate reason for the Obama administration trying to thread the needle to be simultaneously in support of the repeal of DADT while arguing to delay it: The military may be, as it does preparedness training, discovering that there's enough hostility toward LGB troops to warrant delaying the repeal for their protection until the hostility is neutralized, either through sensitivity training or discharges.

If that is the case, however, the Obama administration and the military need to say so. Because, if that is the reason for the delay, and they're refusing to articulate it out of some misguided attempt to protect the American people from evidence of the existence of homophobia in the military (lulz we are aware!), the silence is just serving to shield hatred and haters.

If that is the case, the Obama administration the the military really shouldn't concern itself with the delicate feelings of gay-hating dipfucks and tell some truth about the fact that it's violent bigotry which is holding up the process.

[H/T to Shaker cim.]

The Pentagon Has Suspended DADT

In wake of the court ruling ordering the immediate suspension of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Pentagon is complying: "The Pentagon has ordered a halt to all separations of gay troops under 'don't ask, don't tell' and will begin accepting applications from prospective recruits who identify themselves as homosexual."

Meanwhile, defense officials will continue to prepare for the law's formal repeal, which Congress approved in December. The law will be formally repealed 60 days after the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs "certify" that it will not adversely impact military readiness.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he expected certification to occur in late July or early August.

It remains unclear whether the Pentagon will seek to appeal Wednesday's court ruling, which would have to go to the Supreme Court, Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. David Lapan said Friday.

Troops are currently undergoing training programs to clarify the law and ensure a smooth transition to its repeal. Most of that training is expected to be completed by this summer, yet there is no requirement that 100 percent of the force must be trained prior to repeal, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said.

Quite obviously, it would be better if the entire military had been through sensitivity training before the repeal. Sixty days should be more than enough time for that to happen.

Quote of the Day

"It's the hope of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that this favorable ruling will not be challenged by the Defense Department. In fact, this whole matter could have been avoided had we had certification back in the spring. It's time to get on with that important certification, end the DADT confusion for all service members, and put a final end to this misguided policy."—Aubrey Sarvis, Army Veteran and Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision today to order "the U.S. government to immediately cease enforcing the longstanding ban on openly gay members of the military."

In other words, the court ordered the government to stop making excuses, pull its thumb out, get with the fucking program already, and officially end DADT.

Servicemembers Still Being Discharged Under DADT

Despite the fact that President Obama signed legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" 187 days ago (and counting), the Advocate reports today that the Pentagon has confirmed servicemembers are still being dismissed under the policy, because the "certification" loophole has allowed the military to drag its feet on implementing the change.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates is leaving office this week, to be replaced by outgoing CIA chief Leon Panetta, who testified during his confirmation hearing earlier this month that he "will work closely with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess whether the elements for certification in the law are met before signing it myself." Which is so vague that it's essentially meaningless.

The can just keeps getting kicked down the road, and, per the Advocate, the discharges continue:

The Pentagon confirmed Monday that more service members have been discharged under "don't ask, don't tell" pending certification of the policy's repeal, with one individual's discharge approved as recently as Thursday.

A total of four airmen have been discharged under the policy in the last several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez confirmed Monday.

...Defense officials had said that the separation approved April 29 was the only such discharge under DADT since late October, when the Defense Department limited authority for discharges to just five senior officials.

But in a statement, Harper confirmed the additional discharges since. "On May 31st, 2011, the Secretary of the Air Force approved discharges of two Airmen under the provisions of 10 USC 654 [the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy]," Harper said. "On June 23, 2011, the Secretary of the Air Force accepted the resignation of an Airman who asked to be separated under the provisions of [DADT]."

Harper said that all four individuals discharged had made voluntary statements regarding their sexual orientation and had asked to be "separated expeditiously."

So, basically, the military may not actively ask anymore, but if you tell, you're still getting kicked the fuck out.