Senate DADT hearings scheduled for early next week

November 24, 2010

by Andy Kelley
New Media Organizer, Courage Campaign

The Washington Blade is reporting that the Senate will hold hearings on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy early next week.

This report comes after several key leaders within the Senate have indicated a desire to hold hearings on how best to move forward with ending DADT. These hearings are widely considered a positive step forward towards ending DADT, and an important next step procedurally in the Senate as congressional leaders prepare to respond to the Pentagon’s study on the matter.

As the Washington Blade Reports:

For the Dec. 2 hearing, the witnesses are set to include Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen as well as the co-chairs of the Pentagon working group: Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon’s general counsel, and Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe…

On Dec. 3, the committee is set to hear testimony from Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright and the military service chiefs: Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead; Marine Corps Gen. James Amos; and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz.

Of those scheduled to testify, Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen have already expressed their strong support for repealing DADT and both men believe legislative action is the appropriate means by which to do so.

Air force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz and Adm. Gary Roughead have expressed similar positive thoughts in light of their knowledge of the Pentagon study, due to Congress at the end of the month.

Filed under: Uncategorized

46 Comments Leave a Comment

  • 1. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:28 am

  • 2. Gregory in Salt Lake  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:34 am

    Hey Phillip R. Happy Birthday…I count this as good news :)

  • 3. Lesbians Love Boies  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:37 am

    √+1

  • 4. Matt  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:37 am

    I wonder if we can watch these hearings on CSPAN as well… The beginning of December is looking like an interesting couple of weeks!

  • 5. Ann S.  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:39 am

    √+2

  • 6. Alan E.  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:40 am

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Just get rid of it already!

  • 7. Alan E.  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:42 am

    Also, check out this report from an "expert":

    Stress can lead to homosexuality — expert

  • 8. Bill  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:43 am

    Kamala Harris WINS the California AG!!!!!

  • 9. Lesbians Love Boies  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:47 am

    Got it…it's all about pag-na-stress yung tao, yung neurotransmitter na sorotonym, tumaas!

  • 10. Gregory in Salt Lake  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:49 am

    !!!!

  • 11. Lesbians Love Boies  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:54 am

    Jeeze these people are pathetic…Witt has gone through so much already.

    Air Force: Not so fast on lesbian's reinstatement
    Officials say she must prove she is still qualified and pass a medical exam

    The Air Force said Wednesday a lesbian flight nurse discharged under "don't ask, don't tell" must prove she is still qualified and pass a medical exam before it will consider reinstating her.

    U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton in Tacoma ruled two months ago that former Maj. Margaret Witt's firing violated her rights, and he ordered that she be given her job back as soon as she put in enough nursing hours to meet qualifications for the position.

    The Justice Department appealed that ruling Tuesday. But government lawyers did not seek a stay that would put the judge's order on hold.

    1.
    More U.S. news
    1.
    Image: A lone protester
    Airports see few delays despite planned protests

    Updated 114 minutes ago 11/24/2010 7:58:26 PM +00:00 Lines moved smoothly at airports around the country Wednesday despite a loosely organized campaign urging air travelers to boycott the controversial full-body scanners at security checkpoints. Full story
    2. Airport pat-downs may raise infection risk
    3. Newsweek: 6 things to know before your pat-down
    4. Updated 23 minutes ago 11/24/2010 9:28:54 PM +00:00 Air Force: Not so fast on lesbian's reinstatement
    5. Updated 107 minutes ago 11/24/2010 8:04:55 PM +00:00 U.S. moves to make synthetic marijuana illegal

    Witt's lawyers celebrated the ruling, saying it meant she could be reinstated even as the appeal proceeds.

    The Air Force issued a statement Wednesday saying that if Witt meets her nursing qualifications, military officials and the Justice Department will reconsider whether to seek a stay.

    "To date, she has provided the Air Force no evidence that she meets the qualifications necessary to serve as an Air Force flight nurse, nor has she passed a medical physical which is also a prerequisite to her reinstatement," said the statement released by Lt. Col. Karen A. Platt.

    More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40360206/ns/us_news-l…

  • 12. Lesbians Love Boies  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:55 am

    sorry about the extra news items in there…poorly developed website! or poorly developed proofing on LLBs part!

  • 13. Ronnie  |  November 24, 2010 at 7:55 am

    : ) ……Ronnie

  • 14. Bill  |  November 24, 2010 at 8:09 am

    They have also asked Witt to balance a ball on her nose and clap like a seal while she does her nursing duties.

    Just to be EXTRA sure.

    Seriously, this woman has MAJOR cajones to allow herself to be put through this. I can only wonder if a straight soldier would fight so hard to be a part of the military.

    If I believed in God, I would ask him to bless Witt. But since I do not, I will simply say that I have SO much respect for her. So much respect.

    A TRUE AMERICAN HERO!!!

  • 15. JonT  |  November 24, 2010 at 8:24 am

    √+3

  • 16. Chris in Lathrop  |  November 24, 2010 at 9:34 am

    Really. And just what percentage of the population is stressed out?

  • 17. Chris in Lathrop  |  November 24, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Kamala Harris FTW! WOO HOO!!!

  • 18. Ray in MA  |  November 24, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Yup… I don't believe in a God also, but I catch myself saying "God Bless them"… I think it's OK because it's really a casual gesture of goodwill. But in today's "speak" Goodwill to Witt may sound like "good luck at the GoodWill thrift store" … LOL!

  • 19. Steve  |  November 24, 2010 at 9:53 am

    It doubt it's really worth watching. Though if you can stomach the NOM stuff, I guess it may be interesting. I don't think it will be as bad as the 1993 hearings, but you can still expect a lot of homophobia and lies from people like Gen. Amos and McCain (and most other Republicans for that matter).

    I'll stick to the printed highlights.

  • 20. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 10:02 am

    UPDATE (Perry):
    Appellants Imperial County do not object to allocation of time as outlined in order dated 11/15/10 and object to reallocation proposed by Plaintiffs-Appellees. Letter filed 11/24/2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/43933506

  • 21. Sagesse  |  November 24, 2010 at 10:03 am

    They may not request a stay. It's only one person.

  • 22. nightshayde  |  November 24, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Having nothing to do with DADT…

    I just assembled 28 bouquets of silk flowers which I will give out to same-sex couples getting married in West Hollywood whenever marriage equality is restored in California. I still have to bind them with satin ribbon (to cover the sticky florists' tape which holds the bouquets together) — but I've made a lot of progress today.

    I knew it would be a slow day at work, so I brought along a project to help kill time. =)

  • 23. Ann S.  |  November 24, 2010 at 11:13 am

    What a wonderful thing to do!

  • 24. Ray in MA  |  November 24, 2010 at 11:48 am

    I wish you were around for my wedding!

  • 25. nightshayde  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Now I just cross my fingers that I get to hand them out very very soon.

    I'll likely get more silk flowers very soon so I can make more bouquets. I peek into Michael's periodically to see if they have the colors I want in quantities and at prices that will be conducive to the process.

  • 26. Sheryl, Mormon Mothe  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    So, according to this lecture, it happens during critical brain development. Would this be during pregnancy (so we can blame the mother) or during early childhood (both parents can be blamed). Nope, not buying it.

    Of course, that does say that homosexuals did not choose to be homosexuals, so that is a positive. Certainly can't have that so the other side will be discounting this also.

    Sheryl, Mormon Mother

  • 27. Sheryl, Mormon Mothe  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    Going with poorly developed website. LOL

    Sheryl, Mormon Mother

  • 28. Sheryl, Mormon Mothe  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Good point, Bill. Somehow, I don't think straights would be so dedicated to getting their military jobs back. Of course, they are not discharged just for who they are.

    Sheryl, Mormon Mother

  • 29. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Ray, we ALL wish we were around for your wedding. :)

  • 30. Sheryl, Mormon Mothe  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    Another, OT post; however, I wanted to share with my P8TT friends that I start a temp assignment on Monday. I've requested to have the 6th off so that I can be in SF for the activities. I'll know Friday about that.

    Sheryl, Mormon Mother

  • 31. Ronnie  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    Awe…poor babies…I'm crying a river for you…..
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
    'Hate group' designation angers same-sex marriage opponents
    By Krissah Thompson
    Washington Post Staff Writer
    Wednesday, November 24, 2010; 5:00 PM

    Council President Tony Perkins, who was also named in the report, called the hate-group designation a political attack by a "liberal organization."

    (me) Get over it Tony Perkins………….

    "Earlier this month, voters in Iowa sent a powerful message when they removed three Supreme Court justices who imposed same-sex marriage on the state. Would the SPLC also smear the good people of Iowa?"

    (me) Oh but you can impose your Fascist un-American & hateful beliefs & definitions on my personal life violating my 1st & 14th Amendment rights?….It was a unanimous ruling Tony Perkins, get your facts straight….You, Tony Perkins, are the one imposing on our personal lives forcing us to live them how you demand we do…hence why you have been labeled a hate group…GET OVER IT!!!!……………

    Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, objected to his organization's inclusion in the center's report and said the notion that groups opposed to same-sex marriage are equivalent to racists is wrong.

    (me)….STFU, Brian Brainless Brown Suit….you don't know shite…

    "This is about protecting marriage. This isn't about being anti-anyone," Brown said. "The whole idea that somehow those folks who stand up for traditional marriage, like the Family Research Council, are hateful is wrong. [The law center is] trying to marginalize and intimidate folks for standing up for marriage and also trying to equate them somehow to the KKK."

    (me) not really Brian Brown…you are wrong….people who follow, including yourselves go after everything & anything that has to do with being LGBT…your candidates have made hateful, insulting & offensive comparisons. Used derogatory words to describe LGBT people & have even gone so far as to disrespect the religious rights of our Heterosexual supporters…..

    You don't stand for traditional marriage you stand for shoving your repugnant, un-American, Fascist faces into our personal lives & forcing us to bow down to your Theocracy destroying American Freedom…. > ( ….Ronnie

  • 32. nightshayde  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    Indeed!

    I've already promised to make the bouquets for a friend's wedding — and he doesn't even have a boyfriend yet. I made a great big rainbow-colored bouquet for mine over 11 years ago & still have it (since it was made of silk flowers).

    I've always loved rainbows. I guess I was destined to be an ally.

  • 33. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Conratulations, Sheryl. I know you've been looking for work for a while! Still hope to see you on the 6th.

  • 34. Richard A. Jernigan  |  November 24, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Yes, but we need to make sure they do more than just hold hearings. WE need to make sure they repeal it and put adequate protections in place for all service members.

  • 35. grod  |  November 24, 2010 at 1:43 pm

    @Bill
    Harris lead is now 58,224 which is 4460 larger than yesterday, the largest single day jump in the last week or more. With what remains to be counted, the lead apparently is insurmountable. Go the SOS Calfornia: AG and look at the map. From an outsiders' viewpoint its interesting to see how the state split.

  • 36. Sagesse  |  November 24, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    So they're mad… let them be. If being on SPLC's list closes off their access to media and government, that's PROGRESS.

    Time for a happy dance :) .

  • 37. grod  |  November 24, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    @Kathleen
    Is not this the same county that gave 49% of its support to Harris as AG vs 41.5% for Cooley?

  • 38. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    In case you missed the news today, Cooley has conceded.

  • 39. Kathleen  |  November 24, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Yes. I found that interesting. They also supported Brown. I haven't paid attention to the local politics in the county, but someone here mentioned that at least one of the county supervisors who supported the appeal was voted out of office.

  • 40. SoCal Dave  |  November 24, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Finally!! Yes!!!

  • 41. RebeccaRGB  |  November 24, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    Finally! Now we're getting somewhere!
    Now just get the ADL and the FBI to do the same.

  • 42. fern  |  November 24, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    I'm in a bad mood.
    So by December the 6th (St Nicholas) DADT will be repealed Thank you St Nick and from then on the gay warriors will be able to get killed maimed or crippled with pride for God knows what.

  • 43. Gregory in Salt Lake  |  November 25, 2010 at 1:51 am

    Lovely conversation thread….imagining a near future of equality…and when I can get married too! Ray, you getting married soon?

  • 44. Gregory in Salt Lake  |  November 25, 2010 at 1:52 am

    ditto congrats Sheryl :)

  • 45. Rhie  |  November 25, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    Yea I am thinking that too. Then again I am such a policy wonk that I will probably watch at least a little of it.

  • 46. fern  |  November 26, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Still in a bad mood!
    Surrender is something nobody likes some generals would never accept surrender Mc Auliffe was one amongst them, to surrender is being a sissy and a "MAN" hates that and for a politician in an ac office and good easy chair it's so easy to do the man's thing to never surrender.
    I was just wondering how many gay people died in the battle of the bulge while liberating my country from the huns.

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