Feel free to ask, feel free to tell

[andrewducker]

Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been repealed.

Comment of the day:

If I am lying by the road bleeding, I don’t care if the medic coming to save me is gay. I just hope he is one of those buff gay guys who are always in the gym so he can throw me over his shoulder and get me out of there.

Via FeministPhilosophers

Comments

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been repealed.

Well, no it hasn't, it's just got a couple of steps closer to being repealed.

[andrewducker]

Darnit, you're right. The repeal's been passed by one house, but not by the other. I really should learn how to read.

[ladysisyphus.livejournal.com]

And sadly, what has been passed is less a repeal and more a permission slip that lets the military repeal it when they feel like getting around to it -- like so.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Yes, although based on the hearings earlier this year most of the top guys in the military are on board with -- even advocates of -- the repeal process, aren't they? My understanding is that the wording here is primarily a political move to emphasize the military's autonomy, and to minimize the effectiveness of Republicans campaigning in the midterms on the fact that DADT will be repealed by meddling government. Which doesn't change the fact that the wording says what it says, and the Democrats are still basically saying "trust us" to their supporters, mind.

[ladysisyphus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I have little doubt that -- provided this current version gets through both houses -- DADT will eventually come off the books. But while the support from the military brass is there, it's not unanimous, and I hear worries that what'll happen is that the military will tie it up in studies and paperwork while the Democrats say, sorry! we already did all we could!

But the support from the top brass is reassuring, after a fashion. With any luck, they'll stop all DADT discharges pending review of the law ... but I'm not holding anyone's breath.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Not yet, but hopefully soon soon soon and not a moment too damn soon.