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."
