Ill be short.
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I know there is a cynicism around these parts about DADT repeal and its fate in the Senate. I know that most of us feel powerless against the assumed inaction of the Senate to push through repeal in the lame duck session. Most of us feel helpless, like the cards are stacked against repeal, like we have already been dealt our fate. Most of us think its over, that repeal is dead and that there is nothing that we can do about it. I understand the feeling, I feel it too. I feel like things will never change. I feel like the old systems of bigotry and xenophobia that have always worked against the GLBT community will never go away, they will persist, and we will continue to have a second class, a separate America, hidden away from public view, rejected because of a part of their personal and sexual identity.
But despair is hindering our ability to move on the critical issues of our day. While we sit here and bitch and moan and accept the fate that has been dealt us, the Senate decides the fate of repeal, at this moment. We have got to push for the things we want. We must show the Senate Armed Services Committee that repeal is non-negotiable. Repeal mustn't fall by the wayside, sacrificed for political expediency and "bipartisanship". We must, at this moment, stand up and be counted. I know the outcome looks bleak, but the alternative, is much worse. If we don't stand up, repeal will never happen.
Dedicated and honest servicemen and women risk losing the job the love, or keeping their lives a secret from their peers and coworkers. How dare our government ask these dedicated people to sacrifice their integrity, something that is much celebrated in the armed forces, just so they can keep doing the job that they love? Why is it that this is acceptable? Its fucking 2010! Its enough motivation for me to keep posting these diaries, and to keep emailing my senators and Carl Levin and John McCain and writing LTE's.
And it should be enough for all of us. This bigotry being perpetrated against so many good people cannot be allowed to stand. What happens if repeal doesn't go through this session? How much fucking longer will it be before these people can serve their country honorably and without fear of reprimand from the government that they fight for. When can these hard working people be themselves? Where the fuck does the madness stop?
At this moment Senator John McCain is once again moving the goalposts on DADT repeal. He says that he wants a "thorough and complete study" that doesn't look at how to go about repeal, but whether to repeal. And if you look at his comments on MTP he is basically saying that the results of the study aren't valid and that he would like another study done. Its funny, I thought Mr. McCain would say something like this. From my DADT repeal diary:
So, Senator McCain, I wonder how you are going to react when the data contained within those pages doesn't fit your bigoted narrative? Are we going to see more holds, more attempts to destroy repeal, more attempts to ensure that our military stays segregated indefinitely? What will you do, Sen. McCain? I think you are going to double down, and rerun the same tired old arguments that the GOP has been running against repeal for years now
And thats exactly what we are fucking seeing. Not a week later, and my prediction comes true. Does this mean I am clairvoyant? Hell no. It means John McCain has been a transparent homophobe for a long fucking time now.
And thats why we must flood his office. Lots of people will say "oh what a lost cause". Well fuck that. He is going to stand in the way of repeal, so we should make sure his phone lines are flooded, his email boxes are full, his staffers are working at full capacity. We should tell Mr. McCain that his act of homophobia on MTP will not fucking stand. If he doesn't listen, then we will have shut down his office and sent him a strong message. What the hell do we have to lose at this point?
Phone numbers and email addresses:
Senator John McCain, Republican-Arizona, Senate Armed Services Committee
Contact form here
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Senator Carl Levin, Democrat-Michigan, Senate Armed Services Committee
contact form here
Phone number: (202) 224-6221
a full list of Senators names and phone numbers can be found here
There are also numerous petitions that you can sign online to show solidarity with GLB servicemen and women
a couple from the Petition Site: here and here
Patrick Murphy's DADT Repeal Petition Page
Here is one from change.org
Sen. Gillibrand's Petition
Petition for Meghan McCain to talk to her father about DADT repeal here (h/t JesseCW)
Credo Action petition asking the President to end DADT using Executive order here
We have got to send a message tomorrow morning, bright and early. Ill be doing my part.