A recent Rec Listed Diary was kind enough to mention Don't Ask, Don't Tell:
And DADT is still in effect after he PROMISED... I mean, um... Never mind.
Oh, wait, that's not kind, is it? That's mocking dismissal isn't it? Thanks, Lulu. With "allies" like you... well, clearly discharges will go on forever, as you mock people who are working to stop them.
Well, I have some more details on the case of Derek Morado, Maybe Lulu can have a good laugh over it.
Fortunately not everyone is so flip, the story has been picked up by the Fresno Bee and other outlets:
"At least they'll know people are watching and [Derek Morado] has supporters in the community who won't let it just happen."
That's Robin McGehee Executive Director of GetEQUAL quoted in the Miami Herald which notes the irony of the situation without the sarcasm: Gay sailor faces discharge despite 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal. McGehee goes on to say:
"The fact that the Navy is trying to slide one more discharge in under the wire is disgusting, and must be called out for what it is -- blatant discrimination and bullying."
The prospect has been raised that, as Morado is in the Ninth Circuit, he may be able to utilize the same injunction mechanism that Victor Ferhrenbach utilized last year. Morado currently has Navy representation and may need private counsel to execute that. If you can help, I'd suggest contacting GetEqual.
Also, please add your name to GetEqual's protest petition.
Seems that Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama, with such high approval numbers, can afford to spend a little capital to spare the career of a six year Navy veteran for a minor crime.
Morado's crime?
...he posted a photo of himself on his MySpace page kissing another man.
"He was just a friend, not a romantic interest," Morado said.
More details from the Fresno Bee:
Morado said that after he was outed, his job duties changed from making bombs to managing barracks.
Other sailors have told him they are on his side, he said.
"All I've gotten is support and shock that this is happening -- nothing negative," Morado said.
We have three wars to fight. If Morado's good at making bombs, shouldn't he be making bombs? And can't the Navy find better things to do with our time and tax dollars than myspace investigations?
Victory!
Derek Morado -- who was faced with discharge even though "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was history -- just telephoned GetEQUAL to let them know he won his battle to stay in the military today.
Thank you to the thousands who signed our petition on behalf of Derek over the past 24 hours. We sent your names to Derek this morning right before he went into his hearing, so in a very real way you were there with him.
According to Derek, all three members of the hearing board voted to retain him in the military -- an incredible result.
Derek gets the lion's share of the credit for today's victory, but I really believe each and every one of you who joined AMERICAblog and GetEQUAL in this action played a role, and you should proud.
Please share this success with your friends -- and encourage them to join us in our effective activism.
Pity it had to go this far. Pity he had to sweat and worry this long, right up to the hearing.
Now this from GetEqual:
We did it!!
I just got off the phone with Petty Officer Derek Morado, the servicemember who was facing discharge today in California despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" having been repealed 100 days ago.
In short, I have great news to report -- by a vote of 3-0, Derek was recommended for retention. With your help, Derek gets to not only save his career, but walk prouder -- without the burden of discrimination on his shoulders.
This is good news for a few reasons -- it shows the power of grassroots efforts to apply pressure and the reality that, when we expose the truth and stand up for our dignity, we win. We don't know how many other servicemembers are facing discharge, but we will not rest until all Americans -- LGB and T -- are free to serve their country freely, openly, honestly, and without danger of discharge.
Today was a victory, and we're grateful to Derek for lending his story and his voice to highlight the fact that servicemembers are still facing the discharge process, even 100 days after the law was repealed. We're also grateful to our friends at AMERICAblog Gay, who partnered with us to send Derek into the courtroom with the names of thousands of supporters who were unwilling to let this happen without pushing back.
This was a good day and I thank each of you who supported this effort. The GetEQUAL community means the world to me, and I know that, tonight, Derek will hit the pillow with a lot less stress and a lot more PRIDE because of you. Thank you!
Get Out! Get Active! GetEQUAL!
Robin McGehee, Director