White House Corrects; 9 Voices Sound Off on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Last week there was some discussion of changes to civil rights language on the White House website. The changes were explained as an evolution from being campaign and transition-focused to "a more governance-focused site to reflect progress." However, specific language changes regarding repeal of the military's gay ban, from repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to change 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', were troubling.

Americablog reports that the language has now been updated and the "repeal" language is back.

In its 'Room for Debate' blog, the NYT asks Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center, Aubrey Sarvis of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, retired Army officer Robert Maginnis, Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org, Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness, former British Royal Navy officer Craig Jones, Brian E. A. Maue of the U.S. Air Force Academy, retired Air Force officer Edith A. Disler, and Oklahoma GOP Senator Jim Inhofe about what effect the President's repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' would have, and whether or not it should be done by executive order or an act of Congress.

In related news, the Des Moines Register reports that Iowa's new marriage equality laws will have no effect on whether or not gay servicemembers can be discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy:

"The federal law, approved by Congress in 1993, takes precedence over the Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April that legalized same-sex marriage, according to legal experts. The ruling struck down Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act, which had limited marriage to a man and a woman. The federal law, approved by Congress in 1993, takes precedence over the Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April that legalized same-sex marriage, according to legal experts. The ruling struck down Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act, which had limited marriage to a man and a woman...None of the 9,400 soldiers and airmen now serving in the Iowa National Guard is known to have obtained a license for a same-sex marriage since the Iowa court ruling was issued, Hapgood said."

Rep. Patrick Murphy to Take Lead on Military Gay Ban Repeal

Iraq Veteran Patrick Murphy will take the lead in advancing legislation to overturn the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy when Rep. Ellen Tauscher moves to the State Department to be President Obama's Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Talking Points Memo reports:

"There's major symbolic significance to that move. Murphy is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and, more importantly, a Bronze Star winner and the first Iraq war veteran to serve in Congress."

Towleroad readers may also remember Murphy's thrashing of the anti-gay Center for Military Readiness' Elaine Donnelly at hearings before the House Armed Services Committee in July 2008. If not, I've re-posted it, AFTER THE  JUMP...

Donnelly recently rounded up a group of 1,000 anti-gay retired military officers to get behind her bigoted crusade to stop the repeal of the military's gay ban.

Fmr Military Leaders Powell and Alexander on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Rachel Maddow interviewed former General Colin Powell and Andrea Mitchell interviewed Former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander about repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Alexander called DADT "like having a bowl of bigotry around a curtain of silk. It takes the basic integrity of a person and says you must forget it. It turns people into liars."

Mitchell discusses the Elaine Donnelly letter and Alexander calls it "nonsense."

Watch the clips, AFTER THE JUMP...

Elaine Donnelly Steps Up Crusade Against Gays in the Military

Elaine Donnelly of the anti-gay Center for Military Readiness (you may remember reading about her testimony at last July's hearings before the House Armed Services Committee) has rounded up a group of 1,000 anti-gay retired military officers to get behind her bigoted crusade.

The AP reports: "A statement issued by the retired officers Tuesday said passage of that bill 'would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force.' Among the signatories were Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., a former commandant of the Marine Corps; Adm. Leighton W. Smith, a former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Gen. Charles A. Horner, who commanded U.S. aerial forces during the 1990-91 Gulf War; and Adm. Jerome L. Johnson, a former vice chief of Naval Operations. The retired officers said they strongly supported the principle that 'homosexuality is incompatible with military service' and warned that repeal of current law could jeopardize morale and 'unit cohesion.'"

Both Servicemember's Legal Defense Fund (SLDN) executive director Aubrey Sarvis and Unfriendly Fire author Nathaniel Frank criticized Donnelly.

Said Sarvis: "The signers of this petition are mired in the fears and politics of the past. More than 75 percent of the American public, including most younger service members as well as many active duty flag officers, realize the question is not if 'don't ask, don't tell' is repealed, but when and how."

You may remember Donnelly held a secret strategy meeting last October in Washington DC with Veterans Service Organizations which was busted by PFLAG after they intercepted a letter from Donnelly to the VSOs. It appears this is what has come of that meeting.

PFLAG's Steve Ralls wrote then in the Huffington Post: "Thursday's briefing in Washington is a last-minute, last-ditch effort by Donnelly to try and curry some small measure of influence on Capitol Hill. To do so, she is likely to give VSO leaders misinformation, as she has done with the press and the public, in order to mislead them on the issue and attempt to win them over to her side. As polls of military personnel show that young service members and veterans are overwhelmingly comfortable and ready to serve with gay colleagues, she is attempting to reach out to the older, more conservative VSO membership to try and rally support for her cause."

Watch former Army officer Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn) grill and chastise Donnelly at the hearings last July, AFTER THE JUMP...

Right-Wing Group's Secret Meet Against 'DADT' Busted by PFLAG

You may remember Elaine Donnelly. She's pictured here testifying at the July congressional hearings on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. She's seated next to Eric Alva, the first Marine to be wounded in Iraq, who came out of the closet in February 2007.

Donnelly heads up the right wing group 'The Center for Military Readiness' and called upon Veterans Service Organizations to attend a "a private, off-the-record briefing" in Washington D.C. on Thursday intended to strategize on how to prevent the repeal fo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from going forward.

PFLAG obtained the letter sent to the VSOs which reads, in part: "Given your organization's long-standing commitment to military readiness and the high standards and sound policy that promotes it, I hope I can count on you in joining CMR to defend the law regarding homosexual conduct in the military. We need to talk about what can be done, and why, face to face...Due to this issue's urgency, this invitation is not transferrable to casual observers, interns or other non-executive support staff. This PowerPoint briefing, which includes short video excerpts of the July 23 House Armed Services Committee hearing on gays in the military, will cover everything you need to know to provide the type of principled, engaged leadership that only you can give. I would welcome new ideas and commitment that could turn the situation around."

According to PFLAG's Steve Ralls, "The briefing, featuring CMR executive director Tommy Sears, will be held at the organization's Washington conference room, at 1615 L Street, N.W., Suite 650, on October 2nd from noon until 2:30pm."

Wrote Ralls iin the Huffington Post: "Thursday's briefing in Washington is a last-minute, last-ditch effort by Donnelly to try and curry some small measure of influence on Capitol Hill. To do so, she is likely to give VSO leaders misinformation, as she has done with the press and the public, in order to mislead them on the issue and attempt to win them over to her side. As polls of military personnel show that young service members and veterans are overwhelmingly comfortable and ready to serve with gay colleagues, she is attempting to reach out to the older, more conservative VSO membership to try and rally support for her cause."

Watch veteran and Rep. Patrick Murphy read Donnelly at the hearings in July, AFTER THE JUMP...

PFLAG Exclusive: Right-Wing Activists Plan Private D.C. Briefing on Gays in the Military [pflag]
Right-Wing Activists Plan Private D.C. Briefing on Gays in the Military [steve ralls - huffington post]