Leave a Comment Johan
Hoyer will urge speedy implementation on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal
March 19, 2011
By Adam Bink
The Washington Blade has obtained excerpts of the speech that House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer will deliver tonight.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) intends on Saturday to call on supporters of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal to monitor the transition to end the gay ban “diligently” to ensure quick and fair implementation of open service.
The Washington Blade obtained excerpts of the remarks that Hoyer plans to give at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s 19th annual dinner, which is set to take place Saturday at the National Building Museum.
“But tonight, I’m here to urge you: keep working,” Hoyer is slated to say. “Let’s monitor the transition to open service diligently; let’s ensure that it’s implemented quickly, fairly, and professionally. Let’s partner with our military leaders, who are doing an outstanding job in educating our troops about repeal and what it means. Let’s keep an eye on the process until it’s done.”
According to the excerpts obtained by the Blade, Hoyer also plans to say he was proud to work with former Rep. Patrick Murphy to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, was the sponsor of the standalone legislation that repealed the anti-gay law. Murphy lost re-election last year to Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
“I was proud to fight for repeal, to ensure that it had the votes to pass and become law,” Hoyer is set to say. “I was proud to make the case for the patriotism, the dedication, and the courage of gay men and women in uniform.”
[...]
The excerpts obtained by the Blade follow:
“I was proud to co-sponsor the repeal of DADT and ensuring that it got a vote on the House floor. I was proud to stand beside Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran who understands that it is wasteful and wrong to say no to the service of men and women who would take a bullet for our country, simply because of their sexual orientation. I was proud to fight for repeal, to ensure that it had the votes to pass and become law. I was proud to make the case for the patriotism, the dedication, and the courage of gay men and women in uniform.”
“Now, repeal is law. And that is a civil rights triumph—for every single American. I want every one of us to be proud about what we did to make this a safer and more just country.”
“But tonight, I’m here to urge you: keep working. Let’s monitor the transition to open service diligently; let’s ensure that it’s implemented quickly, fairly, and professionally. Let’s partner with our military leaders, who are doing an outstanding job in educating our troops about repeal and what it means. Let’s keep an eye on the process until it’s done.”
We’ve said from the beginning that repeal should take months, not years. So far we’re on that track, but Hoyer is right — quickly is one of the most important words here.
Filed under: Don't Ask Don't Tell
Having technical problems? E-mail prop8trial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
12 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Straight for Equalit | March 19, 2011 at 1:47 am
❄
2.
Kathleen | March 19, 2011 at 2:22 am
√
3.
Richard A. Jernigan | March 19, 2011 at 2:41 am
Thank you for this. I will be making phone calls and writing letters to whomever I need to in order to help the implementation move forward in a timely and expedient manner.
4.
Ronnie | March 19, 2011 at 3:06 am
=……<3…Ronnie
5.
Jordan | March 19, 2011 at 3:19 am
My thanks to all the people who have and continue to support this and the military. I think the forces that be are doing a good job keeping this stuff going at an organized and expediant pace, but I do appreciate the intent to ensure that it does not let up.
6.
Alan E. | March 19, 2011 at 3:43 am
Sitting in class today…all day. Fortunately, I'm meeting my husband and friends for lunch (with a beer!).
7.
Sagesse | March 19, 2011 at 3:45 am
In an article that I posted on an earlier thread yesterday, Aubrey Sarvis of SLDN points out that the terms of both Gates and Mullen are due to end this year. The last thing anyone wants is for certification to be left to their successors.
8.
JPM | March 19, 2011 at 5:08 am
test
9.
JPM | March 19, 2011 at 5:09 am
Speaking of transcripts:
Maggie Gallagher transcript revealed:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/19/957953/-…!
10.
Rhie | March 19, 2011 at 5:45 am
Watching
11.
JonT | March 19, 2011 at 3:36 pm
☮
I will definitely party on the day DADT is finally gone for good.
12.
Richard A. Jernigan | March 21, 2011 at 12:03 pm
As veterans, my husband and I are not about to desert our brothers and sisters who are currently in uniform.
Leave a Comment
XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
TrackBack URL | RSS feed for comments on this post.