Update on the vote to repeal DADT

Following is the email I received from the Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese

Dear Johann,

Huge news: Just minutes ago, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

This historic vote follows the successful vote earlier today in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The issue will now move to the full Senate floor sometime this summer.

After years of fighting to end this law, these two votes are a thrilling step forward, not just for lesbian and gay service members -- but for each and every American who believes in equality.

While this is by no means the end of the road to repeal, today's advances never could have happened without the passionate calls, emails and letters of veterans, service members and people like you.

Through all of this, the most impactful thing to me is how repeal will affect the men and women who are serving in silence now as well as those who desperately want to rejoin. HRC's military consultant Jarrod Chlapowski relayed this story to me that should remind us all why we do this work:

This morning a friend still on active duty called me to ask what I thought about today's votes. "We got it, man," I responded. He didn't believe me and frankly, I didn't quite believe it myself. As I tried to tell him how good a position we are in, the phone became silent. I asked if he was ok, only to realize he simply couldn't get the words out to respond. He was crying. We both were. Finally, a whispered "thank you."

It's incredible to be faced with the thing you've been longing to see since taking the oath to serve and defend the country against all enemies foreign and domestic. I -- and many like me -- long to take the oath again. And because of events this week, I believe we will. So this is what history feels like.

Having come so far toward the repeal that Jarrod and other veterans have so longed for, we must not let up the pressure now.

As the fight moves to the full Senate, final victory is no sure thing. And we must continue to be vigilant.

Even if the repeal passes in Congress, we'll need your continued support to see it through the Pentagon study and certification that will follow.

78% of Americans favor ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" according to a recent CNN poll, yet the right-wing lobbying machine is still working night and day to hijack repeal before the full Senate votes.

So in the wake of this week's inspiring victories, we'll be counting on your continued calls, emails and letters to help us keep up the momentum for repeal.

Thank you for everything you've done to bring us so far. We'll be in touch as the fight moves on in the Senate!

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• gay
• lesbian
• homosexual
• military
• repeal
• DADT
• don't
• ask
• tell
• LGBT

[JohnnyBB82]

Nice. As a gay veteran, this pleases me. I've always hated that law. The current law basically makes people lie by omission if they want to serve their country. Is that honorable? Hardly. I cannot wait until full repeal!!!

And, by the way, you're sooo cute, like a young Val Kilmer with prettier hair. :)

[gaymilitaryman]

@JohnnyBB82 Thanks, I've heard the Val Kilmer bit before, but no one ever said I had prettier hair than him. Haha...

[chickenfarm09]

@gaymilitaryman I liked your shorter hair and clean shaven face. :-) Nice vids though!

[gaymilitaryman]

@chickenfarm09 Short hair and clean shaven face did look nice, but sometimes people just need to break out of the box. Understand?

[ricirish]

OK im losted. Do we want do not ask do not tell? I though that it made it possible for gay's to serve in the army? If you are gay and say your gay you are kicked out right. But now with DADT you can not be asked if you are or are not. So we (gay) would want to keep this. So we are repealing it. Ending it? im losted.

[gaymilitaryman]

@ricirish Watch my video entitled "Let Me Explain Don't Ask Don't Tell". You will understand the situation better then.

DADT doesn't work, because every year a constant flow of gay people are discharged due to their sexuality. Can you imagine what it is like to spend year after year hiding a significant part of your life from everyone you work with. You can never mention any of your relationship joys or issues. You will be alone in a crowd. Don't Ask Don't Tell does not work.

[Grandlnquisitor7]

Repeal DADT! God loves Gays. 

[GrandInquisitor7]

The only people who wan't DADT repealed are Perverts.

[TheMachineX2]

maannn you cant even read, probably sucked too much dick.

[Wildraw9]

wow yer a sexy fella!

[chickenfarm09]

@gaymilitaryman yes sir I do. :-)

[JohnnyBB82]

@gaymilitaryman It is true, and before he became bulbous and wrinkly, I always thought he was one of the most gorgeous actors...

You're doing a great service to those of us who don't have much of an outlet, so I definitely appreciate it. I really hope you start becoming more frequent with your vids. Take care! :)

[JohnnyBB82]

@ricirish DADT requires servicememners to hide a big chunk of who they are. The repeal would allow us to serve openly and with honor. We can then bring our loved one to official functions without fear of reprisal.