Murphy on Repealing DADT: "Now Is the Time to Make It Happen"

Last night, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) explained to Rachel Maddow his decision to sponsor legislation to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

"It's our job now to act with a sense of urgency to make it happen," he said. He told Maddow that he agrees with President Obama's decision not to suspend the policy in advance of Congress sending him a bill to sign, drawing comparisons to President Bush's unilateral decisions.

He reports having support from his colleagues, but does say some representatives of conservative districts will not co-sponsor the bill even if they've privately assured him they'd vote for it.

As for his reasoning in opposing DADT, this Iraq War vet argues:

"When you're in Baghdad in 138-degree heat like I was exactly six years ago, when you're [looking at] the guys to your left and your right or that young women to your left or your right, the fact is you don't care what their sexual orientation is, you don't care what their race is, their religion is, their creed is—you care if they can fire an assault rife, if they can kick down a door, that's what this is about. And that's why we need to repeal this, because now is the time to make it happen."

Video after the jump...

HRC & Servicemembers United Launch "Voices of Honor" Tour to Repeal DADT

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Servicemembers United announced today a national "Voices of Honor" Tour to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), a former West Point professor and Iraq War vet, is the lead sponsor of legislation to repeal the unpopular policy that bars LGBT people from serving openly in the United States armed services.

Murphy said, in part:

"Our president, President Barack Obama, has stated that If Congress can get a bill to his desk repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, he will sign it into law. It is now our job, and my job specifically, to quarterback this through the Congress of the United States to do just that. I can not tell you today how long it's gonna take. All I can tell ya is that paratroopers don't quit, and paratroopers get the job done. To remove  honorable, talented and committed Americans from serving in our military is contrary to the values that our military holds dear."

Video of Murphy's speech after the jump.

"Voices of Honor" will make stops in Philadelphia; Trenton; Virginia Beach; Phoenix; Kansas City, MO; Orlando and Tampa and will feature former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in Iraq, among others. CNN points out that some of those involved were chosen because they're straight, as outreach to other straight soldiers.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #503

COVER ME: Solider who fought the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops returns home.

KICK-OFF: Madonna celebrates Michael Jackson at the second-leg kick-off of Sticky & Sweet.

PED X'ING: Rep. Peter King (R-New York) calls the late Michael Jackson a "pedophile."

SWINGER: Ashton Kutcher dares to swing at the White Party (not that one).

News: Zac Loses Hair, Kern Gets Stern, Goldman $tack$ the Deck

 Very important update: the Delhi High Court's ruling decriminalizing homosexuality actually does apply to all of India.

 Somewhat less important update: Zac Efron gets shorn.

 Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern (R-duh) issues a morality proclamation that equates homosexuality and marriage equality with sex trafficking and child abuse. Don't feel too bad—divorcées, those who bear children out of wedlock and porn aficionados don't make out any better.

 Has Goldman Sachs "engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression"?

 Rumors that Michael Jackson (who was mixing the painkillers OxyContin and Demerol with a surgical anesthetic called Diprivan) had a cancerous lesion removed from (what was left of) his nose are confirmed. His funeral service—dubbed Michael Jackson Celebration of Life—to be held Tuesday at L.A.'s Staples Center, is projected to be one of the most-viewed events ever, drawing comparisons to the funeral of John F. Kennedy, the Apollo 11 moon landing and the finale of M*A*S*H. Want to attend? Enter here for tickets.

 Happy birthday, Malia Obama.

 Why it's sometimes okay to ask Mexican students to "pull it out."

 New Moon star Kellan Lutz improves his Social Life.

 In light of the recent spate of air disasters, meet Juliane Koepcke, who at 17 in 1971 survived a plane crash, plunging two miles from the sky into the Amazon rainforest...still attached to her row of seats.

 Pirates: Not just for Somalia anymore.

 Is Martina Navratilova screwing over the gays...or are the gays screwing over Martina Navratilova?

 Vice President Biden's surprise trip to Camp Victory in Iraq leads him to tell George Stephanopolous the reports from Commanding General Ray Odierno were "more optimistic" than he'd expected. Biden also used the visit to see his son, Beau, who was stationed a few minutes away.

 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent its 2009 Priority Issues Survey to all of its fave donors, asking them to vote on which issues should be prioritized this year. See if you can name a dozen Democratic priorities without listing a single LGBT issue—because the DCCC can.

 You're never too old to camp it up.

 New York Governor David Paterson, who's only slightly more popular than H1N1, is meeting with Senate Republicans and Democrats (who are actually a few percentage points below the flu) today as a spokesman suggests progress is being made toward sharing power.

 What it took for Sherri Shepherd to refuse candy.

 The Queen of Pop salutes the fallen King—the second leg of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour kicks off in London tomorrow with at least three major set changes. On the Jacko tip, portions of "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" are reportedly incorporated into a new version of "Holiday" (replacing Hard Candy album track "Heartbeat"), which is already packed with bits of "Everybody" and the new song "Celebrate." Other surprises spoiled here. (Good luck getting to O2 Arena.)

U.S. State Dept. Condemns Violence Against Gays in Iraq

The U.S. State Department ended its many months of silence and acknowledged and condemned the violence against gays in Iraq after a question from a reporter.

Said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly on Wednesday: "In general, we absolutely condemn acts of violence and human rights violations committed against individuals in Iraq because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is an issue that we've been following very closely since we have been made aware of these allegations, and we are aware of the allegations. Our training for Iraqi security forces includes instruction on the proper observance of human rights. Human rights training is also a very important part of our and other international donors' civilian capacity-building efforts in Iraq. And the US embassy in Baghdad has raised, and will continue to raise, the issue with senior officials from the government of Iraq, and has urged them to respond appropriately to all credible reports of violence against gay and lesbian Iraqis."

In related news, Democrats in the California legislature have called upon President Obama to do something about the violence:

"The state lawmakers who sent a letter to Obama say there have been increasing attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iraqis. The letter states the effort has been led by police ordered to 'clean up' the streets.  It said 63 people have been tortured or killed this year as a result of religious decrees against gays and lesbians. The lawmakers, led by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Mark Leno, say the U.S. should not spend U.S. tax dollars to bring democracy to Iraq and then overlook abuse. The effort, announced publicly Thursday, is supported by 45 of the Legislature's 74 Democrats."

Also in related news, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted the State Department Authorization bill (HR 2410) on Wednesday: "The bill was adopted over Republican objections that 'social issues such as gay rights and abortion have no place in a State Department funding bill.'  But the bill does not focus on social issues, it merely creates mechanisms to improve the U.S. government's support for basic human rights, including the rights of women and of LGBT communities abroad."

Colbert Mocks 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in Front of Troops in Iraq

Stephen Colbert has been in Iraq all week performing for the troops. Last night, after an introduction by George H. W. Bush, Colbert launched into a skit mocking the absurdity of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the firing of gay Arabic linguists.

"Evidently, you can be all that you can be, with one exception."

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...