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How the US Military Has Evolved on Gay Rights

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

JOINT CHIEFS of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen proved that his recent support for openly gay and lesbian soldiers was no fluke. Earlier this month he said that ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was the “right thing to do.” Mullen said he was “troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie.”

Last week, Mullen reiterated his views to a soldier at a military town hall who asked about the policy. He intimated that soldiers no longer fret about this issue, saying it was the fourth town hall he has done and the first time that anybody asked him about it. Mullen reasserted that he has served with gay soldiers since 1968. He said the feedback he has received from countries where openly gay and lesbian soldiers serve is that “there just wasn’t that much impact after the policy got changed.”

This continues the reversal of 17 years ago, when President Clinton said letting openly gay and lesbian soldiers serve was the right thing to do, but was shouted down by the military, including then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell. More than 14,000 gay and lesbian soldiers were discharged after they were outed or admitted their sexual orientation.

Full Story from Boston.com
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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Posted in dadt, don't ask don't tell, evolution, gays in the military | No Responses »

Why DADT Repeal is More Popular Than Marriage Equality

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

The repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and marriage equality, on the surface, are similar policy issues. Both deal with equal rights for gays and lesbians. Both sharply divide liberal and conservative activists and politicians; the same lobbyist groups and think tanks tend to study and push the two issues in tandem.

But when it comes to public opinion, you have two very different issues: support for the repeal of DADT has skyrocketed in the last two decades, while support for marriage equality is stagnant.

Three quarters of Americans support the service of openly gay Americans, up from 62 percent in early 2001 and 44 percent in 1993, according to ABC/Washington Post polls. There has been a dramatic shift particularly among conservatives: a May 2009 Gallup poll shows their support for repealing DADT has jumped from 46 to 58 percent in just the past five years. The issue has momentum at the federal level: Obama brought up DADT in his State of the Union address, and the Senate has followed up on the issue with hearings in the Armed Services Committee.

Full Story from Newsweek
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in dadt, defense of marriage act, doma, don't ask don't tell, marriage equality, polls, public opinion | No Responses »

Poll: Changing "Gays & Lesbians" to "Homosexuals" Drops DAT Repeal Support by 11%

Friday, February 12th, 2010

A fascinating CBS poll reveals that support for the repeal of DADT varies greatly depending on whether “homosexual” or “gay” is used in the wording of the question.

“In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing “homosexuals” to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it. But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it.”

John Aravois at AmericaBlog reacts:

“Bottom line: Homosexual is a nasty, clinical-sounding word with nasty connotations for far too many Americans. It’s what I’ve argued for years, and have been routinely beaten up by some in the gay community who claim I’m nuts – namely, that no one should use this offensive word and we should correct anyone who does. It now appears I’m not so nuts after all.”

Full Story from Joe.My.God
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in dadt, don't ask don't tell, gay men, homosexual, lesbian, poll | No Responses »

57% Support Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal, New Poll Finds

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

By a 57 percent to 36 percent margin, Americans say openly gay service members should be allowed to serve in the United States military, a new Quinnipiac University poll finds. Two in three say the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning openly gay service members amounts to discrimination.

Voters from military households were split on a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Democrats overwhelmingly backed repeal, while Republicans oppose it 53 percent to 40 percent. Independents backed repeal 56 percent to 37 percent.

The findings point to widespread support for repealing the policy but also mixed feelings on how such a change should be implemented. For example, American voters are evenly split on whether gay and lesbian personnel should share quarters with their straight colleagues. And half say the Pentagon should not provide for domestic partners of gay personnel.

Full Story from CBS News
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in dadt, don't ask don't tell, new poll | No Responses »

Senator Gillibrand Introduces Bill to De-Fund Don't Ask Don't Tell

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

A bill that would withhold the cost of implementing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is expected to be announced tonight by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a gay fundraiser, the New York Times reported. Gillibrand is the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) ninth annual greater New York fundraiser in Manhattan. HRC, the nation’s largest gay rights advocate, recently endorsed Gillibrand’s 2010 candidacy.

The bill seeks to deny funding to the military for the costs of implementing the policy that bans gay troops from serving openly in Armed Forces. Gillibrand is expected to introduce her proposal as an amendment to the federal budget.

The policy has come under heavy scrutiny since President Obama called for an end to the law during his first State of the Union address. On Tuesday, the Pentagon’s top brass – Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates – told a key Senate panel considering the issue that the military should end the policy.

Full Story from On Top Magazine
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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Posted in bill, dadt, de-fund, don't ask don't tell, Kirsten Gillibrand, new york, ny, Senator | No Responses »

Why Republicans Are Largely Silent On Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

A funny thing happened after Adm. Mike Mullen called for gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military: A curious silence befell much of the right. If this were a Sherlock Holmes story, it would be the case of the attack dogs that did not bark. John McCain, commandeering the spotlight as usual, did fulminate against the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” But the press focus on McCain, the crazy man in Washington’s attic, was misleading. His yapping was an exception, not the rule.

Many of his Republican colleagues said little or nothing. The right’s noise machine was on mute. The Fox News report on Mullen’s testimony was fair and balanced — and brief. The network dropped the subject entirely in the Hannity-O’Reilly hothouse of prime time that night. Only ratings-desperate CNN gave a fleeting platform to the old homophobic clichés. Michael O’Hanlon, an “expert” from the Brookings Institution, speculated that “18-year-old, old-fashioned, testosterone-laden” soldiers who are “tough guys” might object to those practicing “alternative forms of lifestyle,” which he apparently views as weak and testosterone-deficient. His only prominent ally was the Family Research Council, which issued an inevitable “action alert” demanding a stop to “the sexualization of our military.”

The occasional outliers notwithstanding, why did such a hush greet Mullen on Capitol Hill? The answer begins with the simple fact that a large majority of voters — between 61 percent and 75 percent depending on the poll — now share his point of view. Most Americans recognize that being gay is not a “lifestyle” but an immutable identity, and that outlawing discrimination against gay people who want to serve their country is, as the admiral said, “the right thing to do.”

Full Story from the New York Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in bigotry, dadt, don't ask don't tell, gay soldiers, gop, republicans | No Responses »

Israel: Serving Proudly in the Military

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

I began my mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces in the summer of 1994, just a year after the government decided that gays could serve openly in the military. At the time, I had not yet solidified my sexual orientation, having had encounters with both men and women. I was generally confused.

One thing I did know was that I wanted to join an infantry unit and also serve as a paratrooper—like a “real man.” Basic training was grueling, with sleepless nights, agonizing exercises, and long runs in full battle gear. Those hardships taught me the value of friendship: men struggling together, bleeding together, and supporting one another while pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities. They also taught me that there’s a flip side to military machismo: a helping hand when times are tough or a brotherly hug when missions are accomplished successfully. These friendships enabled me to open up to the other men and talk about my sexual identity. The reactions were always supportive; regardless of whom you share your bed with, these friends would say, we know you are a good fighter and a member of the team.

And so, oddly enough, it was my military service that helped me make sense of my sexual orientation. By the time I became a young officer, I’d come out of the closet to my family and friends and had a steady partner. I did not pin a gay-pride flag on my duffel bag or hang one at my base; I don’t think that would have been appropriate in the military, given the diversity of opinions and beliefs. But I never lied about my preferences, and by the time I became a senior officer in an elite unit, most of my fellow officers knew my story. Yes, I was a gay officer in a special-forces unit—and a damn good one, at that.

Full Story from Newsweek
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in dadt, don't ask don't tell, israel, israeli soldier, military, openly gay | No Responses »

Colin Powell Now Supports Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The last we heard from Colin Powell, on CNN’s State of the Union in July of last year, was that he supported “review” of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Following yesterday’s hearings by the Joint Chief Chair Mullen and Defense Secretary Gates, Powell now says he supports it.

General Powell released a statement to the NYT: “In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.”

The paper notes: “When Mr. Clinton tried to end the ban on gay soldiers, General Powell was the Joint Chiefs chairman and opposed the move on the grounds that it would undermine discipline and order in the military but he supported the ‘don’t ask’ compromise. In his statement on Wednesday, General Powell said ‘the principal issue has always been the effectiveness of the Armed Forces and order and discipline in the ranks.’

Full Story from Towleroad.com
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in colin powell, dadt, don't ask don't tell, gays in the military, repeal | No Responses »

USA: Joint Chiefs Call for Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal – After 11 Month Study

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

The nation’s top two defense officials called Tuesday for an end to the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, a major step toward allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. military for the first time. “No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens,” Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said it was his personal belief that “allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do.”

Mullen is the first sitting Joint Chiefs chairman to support a repeal of the policy, and the forceful expression of his views seemed to catch not only gay-rights leaders but Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is the committee’s chairman, by surprise. Levin, a longtime proponent of ending the law, told Mullen his testimony was “eloquent.”

In 1993, Gen. Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs, opposed allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly but supported “don’t ask, don’t tell” as the compromise was passed by Congress. Under the policy, officers aren’t supposed to inquire about sexual orientation or seek to know it, while service members are to keep quiet about it.

Full Story from the Seattle Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in Admiral Mike Mullen, congress, dadt, don't ask, don't tell, joint chiefs of staff, repeal, study, testimony | No Responses »

USA: Defense Department to Release DADT Repeal Plan Next Week

Friday, January 29th, 2010

The Defense Department next week will propose for the first time a ”way forward” on lifting the military’s ban on gays from serving openly, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Thursday. President Barack Obama has vowed to work with Congress this year to repeal the 1993 law, but Democrats have been waiting to hear from the military on how it could be done.

In special hourlong testimony next Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen were expected to outline steps the military will take to lessen the impact on a force fighting two wars. ”The secretary and the chairman have and will continue to work on an implementation plan, and we’ll be able to share (details) with you early next week,” Morrell said.

Between 1997 and 2008, the Defense Department fired more than 10,500 service members for violating the policy. The number of dismissals dropped sharply after the 2001 terrorist attacks as forces were heavily deployed around the world, with half as many troops fired in 2008 as in 2001.

Full Story from the NY Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in dadt, defense department, don't ask don't tell, pentagon, repeal. plan | No Responses »

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