• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo
  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies
  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

Organizations Respond To Gates Letter

Steve Pep May 1, 2010

Gates letter

Hot on the heels of yesterday's news about a letter written by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen in which the duo suggest holding off on repealing DADT come reactions from The Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and The Palm Center.

Gates

HRC: “Today’s letter from Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton flies in the face of the President’s commitment in the State of the Union address to work with Congress to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law this year.  If the President is going to fulfill his promise it is essential that he address this contradiction immediately.  It is inconceivable that the Secretary of Defense would so blatantly undermine the Commander-in-Chief’s policy commitment."

SLDN: “It's time for the president and commander in chief to speak clearly and frankly on this issue. The commander in chief sounds like he is deferring to his Defense Secretary, to a House Chairman who opposes him on repeal, and to his political operatives.

“With all due respect to Secretary Gates, it is Congress that determines the legislative schedule, not the Secretary of Defense. Congressional leaders and repeal advocates may need to give the Pentagon leaders a gentle reminder."

Palm Center: “The White House knows that the political environment will become more challenging over time,” says Dr. Aaron Belkin, “If repeal doesn’t happen this calendar year, it is unlikely to pass until after the next presidential election.”  Belkin is Director of the Palm Center and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Christopher Neff, Deputy Executive Director of the Palm Center, believes that Secretary Gates’s letter is a signal from the White House, not just the Pentagon.  “Today’s letter represents a public effort by the Obama Administration to put a stop to Congressional repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 2010. Clearly, the Department of Defense is not its own branch of government. The Secretary of Defense serves the President.”

GetEQUAL's protest in front of the White House at Lafayette Park is still on for tomorrow, May 2nd at 12:00 noon (EDT).

Read a copy of the full letter, AFTER THE JUMP.

Topics: Military More Posts About: Don't Ask Don't tell, Michael Mullen, Military, Robert Gates

Related Posts
  • Italy Removes General Over Homophobic Remarks, Sexist, Anti-Semitic Statements. “Gay and Jews Are not untouchable”
  • Gay Veterans Kicked Out Of Service In Witch Hunts and ‘Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell’ Eras Get Full Benefits 10-Years After Repeal
  • Senior Pentagon LGBTQ Noms Get Clear Voice Vote. No Objections. Out Trans, Out Lesbian Confirmed. ‘Ought to look like America.’ Defense Secy.
  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    Published by BANG Showbiz English John Waters thinks mainstream Hollywood films are just as shocking as his gross-out cult classics. The groundbreaking 77-year-old director made his name with the 1972 black comedy ‘Pink Flamingos’ that famously …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John is “back home and in good health” after being rushed to hospital. The 76-year-old pop icon suffered a fall at his French villa on Sunday (27.08.23) evening and …Read More »
  • Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Published by OK Magazine Here's to the newlyweds! On Friday, September 8, Good Morning America star Robin Roberts tied the knot with her girlfriend of 18 years, Amber Laign. The reporter broke the news on her …Read More »
  • Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Ellen DeGeneres has announced her return to TV. The 65-year-old star's eponymous ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show' came to an end in May 2022 after 19 seasons and she's now revealed her …Read More »
Previous Post: « Is This Bollywood Actor A Gay Icon?
Next Post: News: Sex & The City, Sarah Palin, Immigration, Obama »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

    Bella Thorne used to have threesomes with Benjamin Mascolo

  • John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

    John Waters believes mainstream Hollywood films are finally as shocking as his cult movies

  • Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

    Sir Elton John is ‘back home and in good health’ after being rushed to hospital

  • Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

    Robin Roberts Wedding—All the ‘I Do’ Details: The Dress, the Guest List, the Snubs and More Revealed

  • Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

    Ellen DeGeneres announces TV return after 16-month absence

  • Madonna ‘Would Love’ for Britney Spears to Come on Tour With Her After Recent Split From Sam Asghari

    Madonna ‘Would Love’ for Britney Spears to Come on Tour With Her After Recent Split From Sam Asghari

  • Lourdes Leon, Daughter Of Madonna, Shocks With See-Through String Dress At Victoria’s Secret Show

    Lourdes Leon, Daughter Of Madonna, Shocks With See-Through String Dress At Victoria’s Secret Show

  • Mike Pence Confronted by Emotional Mom of Trans Child About Laws to Protect Lgbtq Kids From Violence

    Mike Pence Confronted by Emotional Mom of Trans Child About Laws to Protect Lgbtq Kids From Violence

Adjacent News

  • Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

    Did the UAE ban the Barbie movie? What about Saudi Arabia?

  • From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

    From penal camp, dissident Navalny calls on Russians to resist Putin

  • As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

    As contentious judicial ‘reform’ becomes law in Israel, Netanyahu cements his political legacy

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

    Beyonce pays tribute to stabbed fan

  • Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

    Dwight Howard’s Assault Accuser Submits Uber Receipt as Evidence in Court Battle With Ex-Lakers Star

  • After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

    After Bud Light, Ukraine ‘Scandals,’ Garth Brooks Surprises Again

Partner Links

  • Wednesday Round-Up: Matthew Mitcham; Daniel K. Isaac,; Wayne Brady; Pete Buttigieg; Josh Seiter
    Interview: Matthew Mitcham on making his London stage debut, dream role […]
  • Anderson Cooper talks with Howard Stern about hearing his late father’s voice for first time since he was 10 years old
    View this post on Instagram A post shared by Howard Stern […]
  • Those Good Old GOP Family Values
    I'm sure you all have noticed that if the Republicans say […]
  • British chat show king Graham Norton celebrates 25 Years on the sofa
    It’s been 25 years since Graham Norton took to the sofa […]
  • “Kendall Jenner & Bad Bunny sat together at the Gucci show in Milan” links
    Bad Bunny & Kendall Jenner sat together at the Gucci in […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×
×