Senate To Hold Hearings On DADT This Fall

[babylonsister]

Finally, Action on Gay Soldiers

by Jason Bellini


After determining she didn’t have enough votes in support of a temporary suspension of the ban on gays in the military, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tells The Daily Beast she has secured the commitment of Senate Armed Services Committee to hold hearings on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” this fall. It would be the first formal re-assessment of the policy since Congress passed it into law in 1993.

A statement from the Gillibrand’s office, shared exclusively with The Daily Beast, notes that “265 men and women have been unfairly dismissed from the Armed Forces since President Barack Obama took office.”

Gillibrand’s fast-track proposal for halting DADT, an amendment to the Military Reauthorization Act that would have ordered the Defense secretary to stop investigating gay service members, was never introduced. Even with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressing his support, Gillibrand couldn’t gather the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster, according to a spokesperson.

“I thought it was a long shot from the very beginning,” says Aubrey Sarvis, executive director the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization fighting for the end of DADT.

“Clearly one of the positive things that came out of the Gillibrand amendment was that it served as a catalyst for hearings,” he added.

Gay-rights leaders expressed high hopes that Senate hearings could bring reluctant legislators around. According to a recent Gallup poll, 69 percent Americans think gays should be allowed to serve.

more...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-27/finally-action-on-gay-soldiers/full/

[TheWraith]

1. That's my Senator. nt

[vaberella]

2. You know what...I wasn't that into her...but I have to say it again, I'm glad she my Senator.

I'm glad this is still in the news because I noticed a lot of posts about education and I was worried that DADT/DOMA was getting the backburner for education. Don't get me wrong I strongly believe in education reform but we need DADT to get the limelight and then Ed.

[Thrill]

3. You think people are pissed at the Blue Dogs now?

Wait until they show their true colors on this

[SpartanDem]

5. The hate crimes bill passed with no trouble

I don't see any major issues in passing this

[Cha]

4. Rec'd and a

:kick:

[dsc]

6. I more than had some doubts about her given her flipping and flopping on gay issues

I don't have doubts anymore. I hope she wins her primary and the general election.