READ the Pentagon's DADT Repeal Plan

The Pentagon releases their plan to repeal DADT.

The Washington Blade reports...

In a redacted memorandum dated Feb. 10, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness Clifford Stanley provides the military service secretaries with the repeal plan and pledges to work with them to “solidify the format of progress updates as well as the frequency of leadership meets.”


The four-page memo states that the secretaries have until March 1 to provide their first progress update to Stanley.


Last month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates tasked Stanley with devising a plan by Feb. 4 to “facilitate the timely and orderly realization” of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal.


The plan breaks down the path for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal into four stages: pre-repeal, certification, implementation and sustainment.


In the pre-repeal phase, activities include Tier 1 and Tier 2 level training of military leadership and reporting to Obama administration officials on the progress of implementation. For example, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness must have a monthly meeting and report to the defense secretary and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the status of repeal.


To reach the certification phase, the Repeal Implementation Team must provide appropriate documentation to the defense secretary and chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and provide their recommendation to the president.

Here's the document
Pentagon's Plan to Repeal DADT

Another Interesting Quote: Scott Brown

"Having reviewed the Pentagon report, having spoken to active and retired military service members, and having discussed the matter privately with Defense Secretary Gates and others, I accept the findings of the report and support repeal based on the Secretary’s recommendations that repeal will be implemented only when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed."

Scotty the Hottie said he will support the repeal of DADT. He said this at the hearing today

source

WATCH Roland Burris' Farewell Speech... Calls for more Diversity and the Repeal for DADT

thanks to Rod 2.0

National Black Justice Coalition Ask Organizations to Keep Fighting to Repeal DADT

They are on it.

NBJC released a statement about the DADT vote:

National Black Justice Coalition Encourages
Ally Organizations to Keep Fighting
to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

For Immediate Release

On September 21, the Senate failed to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT),” a law that calls for all gay and lesbian people who serve in the armed forces to be discharged without benefits if their sexual orientation is revealed. Supporters voted 56-43 in favor of starting debate on the 2011 Defense authorization bill, short of the 60 needed. A Republican-led filibuster blocked efforts to reverse DADT, shelving an Obama administration priority until after the November election.

In response to the delayed repeal, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks stated,

“The battle to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been stalled temporarily, but the fight is not over. We thank our ally organizations and informed leadership for staying the course to reverse an unjust and outdated law that compromises the moral integrity of our armed services by forcing gay and lesbian servicemembers to lie about who they are and who they love. More than thirteen-thousand servicemembers have been discharged due to DADT, including a disproportionate number of Black women. Those women have been left without health benefits and pensions and with a stained professional record simply for being lesbians. We look forward to the day when, even in our short-term memory, this will seem absurd--the fact that people debated whether servicemembers who sacrifice their lives every day to keep our country safe also have the right to be honest about who they are without becoming victims of government-sanctioned identity suppression.”

###

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. NBJC's mission is to end racism and homophobia.

source

Sen. Olympia Snowe wants to Review the DADT survey results before voting

Sen. Olympia Snowe wants proof, not Lady Gaga. Today, she sent a official statement, laying down her stance of the DADT repeal.

Snowe Statement on Defense Authorization Bill

September 20, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) released the following statement regarding tomorrow’s procedural vote on the Defense authorization bill and the majority’s intention to limit the number of amendments considered:

“First and foremost, the Senate should have the ability to debate more than the three amendments the Majority Leader is allowing, especially as this bill is the largest discretionary authorization measure that Congress considers, that the bill describes the policies and programs that provide resources and direction to the nearly 2.4 million men and women of the military – active, reserve and civilians, including the courageous Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that two of the three amendments don’t even relate to the military. It is therefore imperative that Senate deliberations on the defense bill be conducted without limitations and in a manner that allows for the consideration of all related amendments that Senators may wish to offer.

“Moreover, as I have previously stated, given that the law implementing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has been in place for nearly 17 years, I agree that it is overdue for a thorough review. The question is, whether we should be voting on this issue before we have the benefit of the comprehensive review that President Obama’s Secretary of Defense ordered in March, to secure the input of our men and women in uniform during this time of war – as the Joint Chiefs of Staff from all of the services have requested prior to any vote. We should all have the opportunity to review that report which is to be completed on December 1, as we reevaluate this policy and the implementation of any new changes.”

So she wants to see the results of the DADT survey. I hate to say this, but that could be the reason for a hold up in tomorrow's vote.

source

SLDN and Lady Gaga head to Maine for DADT rally

Today, Lady Gaga and SLDN are heading up to Maine to rally for DADT. They hope to gain the support of Maine's Repub Senators in order to stop a possible filibuster on Tuesday's vote.

Here's more:

Now, after hitting the white carpet and taking to the Web, Gaga is heading to Maine to raise awareness at a large gay-rights event. The pop superstar is slated to appear at the #4the14k rally organized by the SLDN in Portland, Maine on Monday. The title references the approximately 14,000 citizens discharged under DADT, and veterans affected by the military's controversial measure will address attendees. The event will kick off at 4 p.m. ET.

"Meet me in Portland, Maine 2moro, 9/20 to help repeal #DADT. I'm holding a Rally + speaking live in Deering Oaks Park," Gaga tweeted on Sunday (September 19).

SLDN maintains that the organization seeks to draw the support of Republican Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, who could significantly affect the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill which includes the repeal of DADT. The bill would benefit from bipartisan support in order to overtake Arizona Senator John McCain's filibuster.

I will post more on how everything turns out.

source

Lady Gaga continues her DADT Message, Little Monsters too

Here are others or Little Monsters

Lady Gaga has a Message to The Senate about DADT

From Harry Reid's Campaign: Reid does not take cues from Gaga.

In the magical, unicorn infected world we live in, many believe that Lady Gaga is the new Mary Magdalene (especially the gays).

Earlier this week, she brought discharged soldiers to MTV's VMAs as a statement against DADT. It was a great gesture to bring awareness of the issue. Gaga also urged folks to contact Harry Reid and push him to repeal DADT.

Then a day or 2 later, Reid announced that they will vote on DADT next week. Suddenly, LGBT blogs and WeHo gay munchkins claimed that it was Gaga who made this happened. Now, when I heard this... I laughed. I mean Gaga is good, but not 'Angelina Jolie' good. But many were convinced.

But today, we have some clarification:

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday a vote to repeal the military’s ban of openly gay and lesbian soldiers had been planned for next week before the singer made waves with a plea during a daytime talk show.

The pop star known for flashy performances and eccentric style called on Reid to repeal the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres that aired Monday.

Reid’s campaign and Gaga traded talking points on Twitter after the lawmaker announced the vote. Reid told Gaga repealing the measure was the right thing to do.

Campaign spokesman Kelly Steele said Reid does not take cues from Gaga.

Maybe if she made a song for his campaign, he might consider it.