Hundreds of active duty troops took part in last Sunday's San Diego Gay Pride. Above, a shot from from International Business Times from that day.
Expected and reported, now confirmed.
I was alerted there would be coverage on on CSPAN at 1:30 PDT 4:30EDT today
From Washington Blade:
President Obama and Pentagon leaders gave the green light on Friday to start the 60-day time period for when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be off the books and openly gay Americans will be entirely free to serve in the U.S. military.
After consultation during a Friday meeting at the White House, Obama — along with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen — issued certification to Congress that the armed forces are ready for open service.
Under the repeal law signed in December, the military’s gay ban will be lifted once the president, the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify the armed forces are ready for open service. Consequently, now that repeal has been certified, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be off the books on Sept. 20.
Press Releases after the fold.
I implore commenters to resist the urge to post comments that may be flame-baiting, dismissive sarcasm, so we can all just enjoy this moment together.
ACLU is reporting repeal of the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law has been certified:
WASHINGTON – The repeal of the discriminatory military policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been fully certified today by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen and President Barack Obama. The certification officially states that the military has completed its review of the repeal and can confirm that the armed forces’ implementation of the repeal and the transition to open service will not affect unit cohesion or readiness. Lesbian, gay and bisexual troops can begin serving openly 60 days from today’s certification. In addition, those who wish to enlist and join the armed forces will no longer need to lie about their sexual orientation in order to do so.
“The days of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ are quite literally numbered. Very soon, gay and lesbian service members will be able to serve their country openly, honestly and with the dignity they deserve and for far too long were denied,” said Laura W. Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office. “While this policy’s repeal is a huge step forward, statutes that discriminate against LGBT Americans and their families remain intact. The demise of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ demonstrates that we should not write discrimination into our laws. Now is the time for Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”
The ACLU will continue to seek justice for service members who were discharged under the policy but denied the full separation pay granted to other honorably discharged veterans. Department of Defense policy states that anyone honorably discharged for “homosexuality” is entitled to only half the separation pay given to other honorably discharged service members to ease their transition to civilian life.
“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been a discriminatory distraction for far too long, and we welcome its repeal once and for all,” said James D. Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBT Project. “But significant as this is, the Department of Defense still has serious work to do in terms of implementing the repeal. For example, DoD is still cheating service members who were kicked out under ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ of full separation pay – DoD regulations give honorably discharged gay soldiers only half separation pay, despite their having served as long as their straight colleagues did. That’s hardly fair.”
Servicemember's Legal Defense Network:
Service members today welcomed a key milestone in repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), as President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, formally issued their certification to the Armed Services committees of both houses of Congress, signifying that the military is ready for the transition. In 60 days, as prescribed in the law passed by Congress and signed by the President last December, repeal will be final.
“The final countdown to repeal begins today. Service members celebrate this historic announcement, and they are ready for this change. Our nation’s top military leaders have testified that commanders see no significant challenges ahead, and now the President, Secretary Panetta, and Chairman Mullen have certified to Congress that the armed forces are prepared for the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
But Sarvis warned that the repeal of DADT is just one important milestone along the journey to achieving LGB equality in America’s military, and he renewed the organization’s call for the President to issue an executive order prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Such an order would give LGBT service members recourse outside their chain of command if they are experiencing discrimination or harassment.
“Every service member deserves equal respect in the work environment. Signing legislation that allows for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was necessary, but it is not sufficient for ensuring equality in the military. It’s critical that gay and lesbian service members have the same avenues for recourse as their straight counterparts when it comes to harassment and discrimination,” said Sarvis.
Sarvis said that SLDN will continue the fight for full equality for LGB troops who are serving today, as well as for those qualified Americans who wish to join.
“The work of advancing military equality marches forward after repeal. At SLDN, we will represent and defend those who may face harassment or discrimination as we oversee implementation; when necessary and timely, litigate in the courts to bring about full LGBT equality in America’s military; advocate for legally married service members to receive the same benefits as their straight counterparts; and assist veterans to correct or upgrade their discharge paperwork,” said Sarvis
National Center For Transgender Equality reminds us of the forgotten:
Washington, D.C. - In response to reports that the U.S. Armed Forces is ready to repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling says:
"NCTE rejoices whenever discriminatory laws end and 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was a discriminatory law and it needed to go. However, as repeal is certified, transgender servicemembers continue serving in silence. NCTE looks forward to the day when the U.S. Armed Forces ends discrimination in all its forms."
NCTE calls on repeal advocates, the Pentagon and the Obama Administration to address the gap in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal.
The Palm Center:
Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin released the following statement on the imminent certification by the
Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the Pentagon is ready for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
"Today, U.S. military leaders set a new, global standard by saying to every military that still bans openly gay service that ‘repeal is no
big deal.’ In doing so, our military leaders are confirming the lessons of the British and Australian forces: openly gay service is a
non-event and military readiness is improved when service members are not forced to lie in order to serve their country. Given the size,
strength and reach of the U.S. military, the global standard for military forces and for equality has been raised."
Parent and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), shines a light on the injustice of DOMA:
PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) – the nation's largest grassroots-based organization for parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people – has issued the following statement regarding the certification of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the law which bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military.
“This is the end of government-supported discrimination against gay and lesbian service members who honorably serve their country and the beginning of a new chapter in our military history, one focused on the inclusion of everyone who nobly defends our nation and our responsibility to them when they come home. PFLAG National hopes that the Joining Forces program spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will be inclusive of all military families and reflect programs and outreach that are responsive to our gay and lesbian service members, their spouses and families, and the unique issues that they often face,” said PFLAG National Executive Director Jody M. Huckaby.
“It has been 212 days since the president signed the repeal of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’, and there will be another 60 days to wait before implementation begins. Beyond that, more waiting lies ahead, as legal partners and spouses of serving gays and lesbians will not receive any benefits or even recognition from the Department of Defense. Without that all-important U.S. military spouse identification card, these spouses and partners will have no medical coverage, no on-base housing and, perhaps most important, no survivor benefits or next-of-kin notification in case of death. Repeal of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ is a significant victory, but an incomplete victory. DOMA must be repealed to ensure that serving gay or lesbian is truly equal to serving straight,” said PFLAG National board member Col. Daniel Tepfer, USAF (ret.).
Outserve:
OutServe, the association of actively serving LGBT military personnel, hailed the announcement that Secretary of Defense Panetta, President Obama and Admiral Mullen certified the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” today.
“This is a welcome step, and reflects what our members are saying, that the military is ready to move beyond ‘DADT’,” said “JD Smith,” OutServe’s active-duty co-director, who is identified by a pseudonym while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still in effect. “In 60 days, my life and the lives of thousands of other gay and lesbian troops changes. I cannot be more proud to be able to serve during this time.”
“This day has been a long time in coming. Soon, we will see that gay and lesbian troops demonstrate the same professionalism that is the hallmark of our armed forces, and that all military personnel will prove more professional than some have given them credit for,” added OutServe spokesperson and combat vet Jonathan Hopkins. “Through our work with the Pentagon, we are confident they have worked hard to devise smart policies as we move forward. As we move forward, what matters most is leadership.”
Servicemembers United:
"Today, gay and lesbian servicemembers can and will breath a huge sigh of relief. While we still must wait 60 days for this change to formally take effect and for the law to officially be off the books, this step is nothing short of historic," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This is the final nail in the coffin for the discriminatory, outdated, and harmful 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. All servicemembers, the U.S. military, and the nation will be better off as a result of this long overdue change in policy."
Certification - a formal acknowledgement by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that military is ready for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law - was the last major political hurdle before the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act of 2010 could take effect. Now a 60-day waiting period will commence, at the end of which the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law will officially be repealed and off the books.
In 2010, a U.S. District Court judge found the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law to be unconstitutional in a lawsuit brought by the Log Cabin Republicans and in which Servicemembers United's Executive Director served as the sole named plaintiff. A subsequent worldwide injunction barred enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law against servicemembers by the Department of Defense. That injunction, which had previously been stayed for a period of time by the Ninth Circuit, has been partially back in effect as of July 15th.
CSPAN breaking right now, at 4:30 to Pentagon announcement.
1:59 PM PT: Watching the press conference the press is asking lots and lots of questions on the Defense of Marriage Act. This move really places a harsh spotlight on the injustice of that law.
2:03 PM PT: Jeh Johnson says Log Cabin Republican lawsuit is moot. DOJ will argue as such. It remains to be seen if the Ninth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals will agree with them on that opinion. Motions from both sides are surely being filed as I type.
2:09 PM PT: Jeh Johnson is non-responsive to the question why the administration continues to fight the separation pay lawsuit filed by the ACLU in Collins vs. United States. It would cost the Government about $2M to settle for what the ACLU is asking for.
2:30 PM PT: White House Press Release:
Statement by the President on Certification of Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Today, we have taken the final major step toward ending the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality. In accordance with the legislation that I signed into law last December, I have certified and notified Congress that the requirements for repeal have been met. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all, in 60 days—on September 20, 2011.
As Commander in Chief, I have always been confident that our dedicated men and women in uniform would transition to a new policy in an orderly manner that preserves unit cohesion, recruitment, retention and military effectiveness. Today’s action follows extensive training of our military personnel and certification by Secretary Panetta and Admiral Mullen that our military is ready for repeal. As of September 20th, service members will no longer be forced to hide who they are in order to serve our country. Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian.
I want to commend our civilian and military leadership for moving forward in the careful and deliberate manner that this change requires, especially with our nation at war. I want to thank all our men and women in uniform, including those who are gay or lesbian, for their professionalism and patriotism during this transition. Every American can be proud that our extraordinary troops and their families, like earlier generations that have adapted to other changes, will only grow stronger and remain the best fighting force in the world and a reflection of the values of justice and equality that the define us as Americans.
Attached are the certification and transmittal letters concerning the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
2:41 PM PT: From Senator Gillibrand:
@SenGillibrand Thrilled that #DADT repeal has been certified! Putting this corrosive policy behind us will strengthen America both militarily & morally.
9:50 PM PT: