OFFENSIVE DEFENSE

Senate Rejects Anti-Gay Provisions In Defense Budget

The Senate has approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) without the anti-gay provisions implemented by the House.

The version of the NDAA passed by the House in May included a provision by Rep. Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin that would have justified – on moral or religious grounds, naturally – discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, race, gender, or any other characteristic.

Another provision would have prevented same-sex marriages on any military-owned property.

OutServe, an advocacy group that represents actively serving LGBT military personnel, praised the Senate’s decision to cleanse the NDAA of the discriminatory provisions.

“[We] have been working throughout the year to encourage Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to pass a common-sense defense bill that respects the service of all who wear our nation’s uniform and does not turn the clock back on the progress we have made,” said OutServe Executive Director Allyson Robinson. “With no anti-LGBT provisions, the bill received full bipartisan support, passing 98-0. We will be standing firm to ensure that the harmful language included in the House version is stripped away in conference committee.”

The NDAA, however, remains controversial as it allows the President to arrest and indefinitely detain American citizens he believes might pose a threat to national security.

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