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Amidst all the hoopla heading into Memorial Day weekend over the ‘repeal’ of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network very wisely posted a warning to all members of all service branches: nothing has changed. As a public service, I am re-posting SLDN’s warning here:
Attention Service Members: DADT is Still in Effect
*** *** *** *** *** ATTENTION SERVICE MEMBERS *** *** *** *** ***
"DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL" IS STILL IN EFFECT
It is being widely reported that Congress is acting on legislation that would repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." Regardless of what happens in Congress, it is important to remember that the legislation being considered, if and when it passes, will NOT go into effect immediately. "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" continues to be the law, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members remain vulnerable to being discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation.
While Congress is taking steps to enact a roadmap for full repeal and the implementation of open service, it is not safe to come out nor serve openly until the process of repeal is complete. During this time, continue to check with SLDN regarding changes in the law, changes to the regulations, and what impact, if any, these developments mean for your ability to serve openly.
Remember:
– Do NOT come out.
– "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" remains the law until this process is complete.
– Lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members are still being discharged under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and they will continue to be discharged until this process is complete.
– Continue to check with SLDN to learn about how the latest political developments will impact your ability to serve openly.
Earlier this year, DoD made changes to how "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is implemented – those changes remain in effect.
If you have questions about how the latest political developments may impact you, or about "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" in general, call 202-328-3244 x100 or email legal at sldn dot org to schedule an appointment with an SLDN attorney.
By Aaron Tax, SLDN Legal Director
Teddy here: Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. As you honor those who serve, remember: DADT is still the law. Stay safe, stay closeted, stay private.
29 Comments
Please be sure any of your family and friends who are serving our country know about this. Regardless of their sexual orientation, it’s very important that all our serving troops know that their comrades are at risk of exposure. I’d sure hate for all this week’s celebrating to endanger anyone’s career needlessly.
Active duty, reservists, ROTC — doesn’t matter. Everyone needs to be vigilant, now, especially because less-well-informed but well-meaning compatriots might err.
Updated with Defense Secretary Gates’ video message for the troops.
They will eventually get this bill repealed completely so that the Gay and Lesbian troops can serve openly with the honor they already display as they go about their daily missions.
And with that, Republics will be sent into a perpetual petulant frenzy.
Let ‘em whine.
I can guarantee that some of the sharpest folks I knew were lesbians and gays serving. The primary problems they had back when was if they got an uber-religious type commander or a commander that just did not like them (which happens quite often unfortunately)
Yes, Still Do not Tell…! Sad, but, true…! 8-(
guess i’m smart, cuz i already knew all this, i.e. not a thing is diff.
so anyway, thanks for again enabling and validating the asshole toddlers of this country, Barack. when you could have been a man, told the dinosaurs to fuck off and this is how it’s gonna be.
you’d done it on 1/21/09, whole thing would be dead and forgotten now.
moron.
pussy.
Copy that.
And that goes for real financial reform, real HCR, a real stimulus package, etc…
We been had…
I could forgive Obama for not delivering on his promises if he made a sincere effort and failed. The truth is he never fights the good fight, however he thinks with proper messaging he can make us believe that he did.
Too bad the banners were not wide enough to accommodate his full slogan: “No Change We Can Believe In.”
With the clout he had in Congress as he entered office, he could have kicked asses and taken names. Instead, it was all about tacking right and singing Kumbaya with the wingnuts…
And here we are.
The problem is that we don’t know where “here” is with Obama. Or maybe there’s just no there there.
“Please, please, please!!! keep being not who you are for another ObamaUnit.”
An ObamaUnit would be longer than a Friedman, right…? ;-)
An Obama unit is undefined by time, and defined by Republican politics for likelihood.
But, but…..Obama is the defender of bipartisanshit. And he’s doing a great job of it.
In other words, Never…? ;-)
There is no “I” in an Obama Unit. It’s just an OU which is pronounced owie.
Depends on the weather. During winter months some shrinkage is to be expected.
It occurs to me that although I favor getting rid of DADT, I do not favor keeping women as career soldiers, although they could possibly be employed if necessary in emergency situations or as nurses.
On this issue I admit…I’m on the wrong side of public opinion. 67% of the public favored regular noncombat military enlistment of women as of 2005. Well, so be it. I’ll take an unpopular stand to prevent women from being killed and hurt for no reason.
No one should get killed or hurt for no reason. Dontcha think?
When there is a reason to go to war, IMO protecting women’s lives is more important than protecting men’s. Unfortunately our society has lost its sense of dignity, so this is no longer the majority view.
Sorry, equality is equality and I’d just as much prefer a woman go die and fight in some God forsaken place than a man. My son is no less valuable or important to me than someone else’s daughter. In this day and age, I’d rather see neither of them out there, but women deserve no special quarter in regards to selective service anymore.
Women are not special snowflakes, they want to be equal, then they can be equal. They can’t selectively choose when that is enforced.
Maybe a positive from this will be that it will expose much of the legislation being trumpeted in Congress as “historical”, etc. for what it really is…
Jon Walker is upstairs!
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I am very worried that this week’s publicity will be misunderstood not only by troops serving closetedly but by their allies. I hope no one comes into the office Tuesday and says, “Hey Mary congratulations! DADT repealed!” in front of a hostile commanding officer.
Stay quiet, stay closeted, stay secretive.
Don’t fink anyone out by mistake.
Oh, Teddy, this is all horrible, and without an executive order halting all discharges while this “process” plays out, this is a dreadful trap for vulnerable servicemembers.
And *all* for Obama’s SELFISH and self-serving political aims.
I am so sorry ~ this is such a crock.
The *word* must be spread far and wide.
David Dayen is upstairs!
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The way I interpret the new policy is:
“You must tell and we’ll still kick you out.”