Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway said that he wants separate barracks for gay troops: “I would not ask our Marines to live with someone that is homosexual if we can possibly avoid it.”
Listen, AFTER THE JUMP…
You may recall that in February hearings Conway said, “I think the current policy works. My best military advice to this committee, to the secretary, to the president, would be to keep the law such as it is.”
The AP wonders if partners of gay troops would receive benefits should “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” be lifted: “Since the draft ended in 1973, spousal benefits have increasingly been used as an incentive to recruit and retain an effective force. Today, more than half of all troops sport a wedding ring.Benefits for married service members include college tuition for a spouse and the right of a spouse to be at a wounded service member's bedside. Spouses also have access to military health care and commissaries worldwide, and married service members receive better housing and even extra pay when they go to war.The ticket to qualifying for those benefits is a marriage certificate. Heterosexual couples have a choice whether to marry, but same-sex marriages are legal in only five states and Washington, D.C. Whether same-sex partnerships would be recognized by the military and what benefits might be afforded gay couples would become issues if the ban were lifted.”
The NYT notes that what is needed to get DADT repealed is help from Obama: “The changes are heartening progress toward the day when the American military is the equal of those in Britain, Israel, Canada and other nations where gays serve openly. The repeal of “don't ask, don't tell” is favored by a majority of Americans. But with Congress in such turmoil, a considerable push by President Obama is needed to end a shameful era in which gay men and lesbians have been denied standing as patriots defending the nation.”
It's been 11 days since Rep Barney Frank called on the White House to say whether they want DADT repealed this year or not. So far, nothing.
Americablog slams HRC President Joe Solmonese: “Make no mistake. Unless Joe Solmonese finds some balls soon, ‘Don't Ask Don't Tell' repeal is not happening this year. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when the Secretary of Defense says no, and the President of the United States is either too scared to defend his own campaign promise, or worse, complicit in undercutting our civil rights, very few members of Congress are going to disagree.One more point. Let these posts from Joe Sudbay and me be a clear marker. Joe Solmonese and the White House have been warned repeatedly that the Democrats are expecting an electoral bloodbath in the November congressional elections, including the distinct possibility that the Republicans will take over the US House. If HRC and the White House think it's hard to get the votes to repeal DADT now, just wait until after the November elections. Not. Gonna. Happen.”
Listen to General Conway's opinion about gay troops and barracks, AFTER THE JUMP…
