Senate panel votes to repeal "Don't ask....Don't tell"

[Valerie]

What is the "Pentagon study" all about?

The full House planned to take an identical measure later Thursday or Friday.
House Republicans were strongly against it, citing letters from armed services chiefs urging Congress to wait until the Pentagon completes a study of the impact of the repeal on military life and readiness.

The gay rights amendment, supported by President Obama, is the product of a compromise with Pentagon leaders: It will not go into effect until the Pentagon completes a study, expected in December, on the ramifications of the policy change and until the president, the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that it won't hurt the military's ability to fight.

The "don't ask, don't tell" policy, itself a compromise worked out during the Clinton administration, states that military leaders will not investigate a service member's sexual orientation as long as the member does not openly acknowledge that he or she is gay or engage in same-sex relations.

Some 14,000 people have been forced out of the military since then because of their sexual orientation.

FOXNews.com - House Votes to Repeal Military Gay Ban

 

[bodecea]

A little late for me, but a proud moment to finally see happen.

Going to join the military now?

Already did...21 years worth....that's why I say it's a little late for me.

 

[blu]

A little late for me, but a proud moment to finally see happen.

Going to join the military now?

can't wait until you are banned

 

[Sheldon]

What is the "Pentagon study" all about?

Here's a pretty general run down. They're having a private contractor confidentially gather the data.

Troops to weigh in on ‘don’t ask’ policy - The Boston Globe

WASHINGTON — Pentagon officials studying ways to permit gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military are in a quandary: They want to gather the unique insights and attitudes of homosexuals in uniform, but to identify and interview gay troops would, under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy, mean that disciplinary action would have to be brought against them.

Since 1993, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy has resulted in an estimated 13,000 service members being discharged because of their sexual preference.

In an effort to get around the interview catch-22, the Defense Department authorized the hiring this week of an outside contractor to confidentially gather the views of troops and their families, several Pentagon officials privy to the deliberations said.

The contractor, Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, will gather information from 350,000 troops and their families, including from homosexual service members. The company will use that data to assess the possible impact of a change in policy on military effectiveness and identify possible changes needed in military recruiting, housing, spousal benefits, and other areas, according to the officials.

The survey comes at a crucial point in consideration of whether to enact President Obama’s stated desire to end the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy 17 years after it was put in place. Criticism of the Pentagon review is growing on Capitol Hill, where some leading Democrats say they will push for repeal of the law in the coming weeks despite a plea from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to wait until the Pentagon review is completed by Dec. 1.

 

[Valerie]

As debate on the defense bill opened in the House, Republicans objected to legislating the ban before the study is completed.

"We're saying 'we're shoving this down your throat,'" said Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas. "The military is not a social experiment. We are sending them out there with a mission to protect this country."

But Rep. Jared Polis, an openly gay Democrat from Colorado, said most Americans "recognize that on the battlefield, it doesn't matter if a soldier is lesbian, gay or straight. What matters is they get the job done for our country."

"We need to get this done, and we need to get it done now," said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served in the Iraq war and who is the chief sponsor of the amendment.

Supporters said this week the Senate panel had enough votes to pass the bill after key holdouts, including Sen. Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, announced they would swing behind it.

"In a military which values honesty and integrity, this policy encourages deceit," Nelson said.

Nelson said a provision in the bill giving the military the power to decide on the details of implementing the policy was key to his support because it "removes politics from the process" and ensures repeal is "consistent with military readiness and effectiveness."

Senate committee votes to end military’s anti-gay ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy | Raw Story

 

[ScienceRocks]

A little late for me, but a proud moment to finally see happen.

Going to join the military now?

can't wait until you are banned

Thanks for defending our freedoms. Also I doubt anyone can get banned on this board and if I thought you could, I sure as heck wouldn't be jacking off like I'm.

 

[Sheldon]

Going to join the military now?

can't wait until you are banned

Thanks for defending our freedoms. Also I doubt anyone can get banned on this board and if I thought you could, I sure as heck wouldn't be jacking off like I'm.

Are you drunk right now?

 

[Avatar4321]

You do realize that no one kept gays out of the military to begin with right?

 

[ScienceRocks]

can't wait until you are banned

Thanks for defending our freedoms. Also I doubt anyone can get banned on this board and if I thought you could, I sure as heck wouldn't be jacking off like I'm.

Are you drunk right now?

Yes, Loaded.

 

[Valerie]

You do realize that no one kept gays out of the military to begin with right?

Some 14,000 people have been forced out of the military since DADT because of their sexual orientation.


http://www.usmessageboard.com/polit...-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-2.html#post2351357

 

[Avatar4321]

You do realize that no one kept gays out of the military to begin with right?

Some 14,000 people have been forced out of the military since DADT because of their sexual orientation.


http://www.usmessageboard.com/polit...-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-2.html#post2351357

No one stopped them from being in the military. It's everyone elses fault they wouldn't follow the rules.

 

[Dr Grump]

Some 14,000 people have been forced out of the military since then because of their sexual orientation.

Ain't the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" great...so nice to see people can live their lives in the pursuit of happiness!

 

[Dr Grump]

It's everyone elses fault they wouldn't follow the rules.

Yes, it is. Some rules a stupid....and need to be changed....Wonder if the US military will 'man' up and change them....

 

[Valerie]

You do realize that no one kept gays out of the military to begin with right?

Some 14,000 people have been forced out of the military since DADT because of their sexual orientation.


http://www.usmessageboard.com/polit...-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-2.html#post2351357

No one stopped them from being in the military. It's everyone elses fault they wouldn't follow the rules.

You don't see how it can be contradictory to fighting for justice and freedom for a soldier to be "at fault" not for their military service, but merely for being honest about who you they are?

 

[Avatar4321]

You don't see how it can be contradictory to fighting for justice and freedom for a soldier to be "at fault" not for their military service, but merely for being honest about who you they are?

You fight for the military you follow orders.

If you aren't willing to follow orders, you shouldn't be there.

Every one of them had a choice, and they picked politics over service.

The idea that they have somehow been forbidden to be in the military is nothing but a political stunt. Stop blaming others and accept that people need to accept the consequences of their choices.

 

[Valerie]

You don't see how it can be contradictory to fighting for justice and freedom for a soldier to be "at fault" not for their military service, but merely for being honest about who you they are?

You fight for the military you follow orders.

If you aren't willing to follow orders, you shouldn't be there.

Every one of them had a choice, and they picked politics over service.

The idea that they have somehow been forbidden to be in the military is nothing but a political stunt. Stop blaming others and accept that people need to accept the consequences of their choices.

It's beyond politics, it's personal for them...


You have direct knowledge of these thousands of personal cases...Or you just imagine all of them as "low" life, regardless...?

 

[Sheldon]

You don't see how it can be contradictory to fighting for justice and freedom for a soldier to be "at fault" not for their military service, but merely for being honest about who you they are?

You fight for the military you follow orders.

If you aren't willing to follow orders, you shouldn't be there.

Every one of them had a choice, and they picked politics over service.

The idea that they have somehow been forbidden to be in the military is nothing but a political stunt. Stop blaming others and accept that people need to accept the consequences of their choices.

Straight soldiers can freely talk about their sexuality.

Gay soldiers can't.

The consequences only exist for the gay soldier.

 

[Valerie]

You don't see how it can be contradictory to fighting for justice and freedom for a soldier to be "at fault" not for their military service, but merely for being honest about who you they are?

You fight for the military you follow orders.

If you aren't willing to follow orders, you shouldn't be there.

Every one of them had a choice, and they picked politics over service.

The idea that they have somehow been forbidden to be in the military is nothing but a political stunt. Stop blaming others and accept that people need to accept the consequences of their choices.

Straight soldiers can freely talk about their sexuality.

Gay soldiers can't.

The consequences only exist for the gay soldier.

Right, and it's not necessarily even needing to talk about SEX, it's merely being open and honest with your peers about your home life and your loved ones.

 

[ScienceRocks]

I'm going to sleep. I hope you all have a wonderful night today.

 

[Sheldon]

You fight for the military you follow orders.

If you aren't willing to follow orders, you shouldn't be there.

Every one of them had a choice, and they picked politics over service.

The idea that they have somehow been forbidden to be in the military is nothing but a political stunt. Stop blaming others and accept that people need to accept the consequences of their choices.

Straight soldiers can freely talk about their sexuality.

Gay soldiers can't.

The consequences only exist for the gay soldier.

Right, and it's not necessarily even needing to talk about SEX, it's merely being open and honest with your peers about your home life and your loved ones.

Yep. I was talking about sexuality as a suffix for hetero- or homo-, as in anything about back home that could reveal one or the other. A straight soldier doesn't have to worry about that, a gay soldier does. Sorry for not being clear.