In about an hour, Sen. Carl Levin will lead the Senate Armed Services Committee as it hears from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen, who are there to reveal the Pentagon’s strategy to meet President Obama’s commitment to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. But what’s infuriating homosexuals — a plan to spend a year or so “investigating” the impact of a repeal, and how to go about doing it — has us the most curious. Like, who’s going to be heading up this investigation?
Sounds like we’re about to find out.
According to U.S. officials, the senior-level study will be co-chaired by a top-ranked civilian and a senior uniformed officer. It would recommend the best way to lift the ban, starting from the premise that the goal will take time to accomplish but that it can be done without harming the capabilities or cohesion of the military force, officials said.
It would make sense — both politically and logistically — to have an actual gay person among these co-chairs. It would signal that the White House and the Pentagon actually value the opinions and perspectives of gay Americans. But because DADT still exists, and is still enforced, it would be all but impossible for Gates and Mullen to name an openly gay “senior uniformed officer” to help lead the study, because doing so would subject that person to a DADT investigation. (Unless, of course, that person is “outed” by Gates and Mullen, in which case s/he would qualify for the expected leniency on personnel unwillingly exposed.)
Which would leave only the “top-ranked civilian” spot open for a ‘mo. To which we might suggest: How about a veteran-cum-civilian who was kicked out of the military because of DADT? Now wouldn’t that send a message.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Meanwhile, tweets GOProud head Jimmy LaSalvia: “At Senate Armed Services Committee. There’s a single protester outside.”
UPDATE: Gates names General Counsel Jeh Johnson and Gen. Carter Ham to head the group.
Dionte
This explains why they don’t want us there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotlEpmAFVQ precious I am
Jason Knight
Send me back in. I served openly for a year in Kuwait before being kicked out when I spoke publicly about my experience. I would go back in a heart beat to show them, once again that this policy needs to go, and with a quickness.
Cam
The Pentagon and DOD already commissioned a study on gays in the military back in the late 1980’s The report said that there was no reason to keep gays out of the military. They buried the report when it didn’t say what they wanted it to say, but here is a NYTimes article on this report.
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/22/us/report-urging-end-of-homosexual-ban-rejected-by-military.html?pagewanted=1
romeo
For all the negativity here both by Queerty and in the comments, the fact remains that poll after poll shows that people recognize that gays are discriminated against and the vast majority are not comfortable with the way we are treated. Unlike other social issues, it is gays who are setting the agenda and not the social conservatives. They are merely reacting out of frustration. And, incrimentally, we are winning because people recognize the injustice.
Mark
ANOTHER DADT investigation! President Obama’s lack of leadership and courage on this issue add’s to his growing list of poor performance. Not the change and hope many American’s voted for.
Mark
ANOTHER DADT investigation? President Obama’s lack of leadership and courage on this issue add’s to his growing list of poor performance. Not the change and hope many American’s voted for.
Mark
ANOTHER DADT investigation? President Obama’s lack of leadership and courage on this issue adds to his growing list of poor performance. Not the change and hope many American’s voted for.
chris
@Jason Knight
You were a soldier?
That makes you ten times sexier
😀
Mamie Baker
My name is Mamie Baker and I am a 20 year old Black Woman from Calgary, Alberta in Canada and my boyfriend James Marshall who is a 24 year old Black Man from Ghana are getting kicked out because we can’t afford to pay thee monthly rent as we are both unemployed. Well this my fault partially as I got fired from Tim Horton’s for phoning in sick to often and I was caught lying as I wasn’t sick. As well my boyfriend James Marshall got kicked out of CDI College for missing to many classes.
In reality we have nobody to blame but ourselves as our ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, dirty like pigs and our being rude and disrespectful are the major reasons why we are getting kicked out.