DADT

a.k.a. Don't Ask, Don't Tell

09/30/2011
DADT

Pentagon to Allow Chaplains to Officiate Weddings for Gay and Lesbian Service Members

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:18pm

Last week, after nearly 18 years and 14,000 dismissals, the demise of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" became official. Earlier today, the Pentagon made clear that military chaplains will be permitted to officiate at wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian service members in those states where such marriages are legally recognized. In addition, the Pentagon made clear that these marriages can be performed on military bases, as well as other Defense Department facilities.

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09/20/2011
DADT

The Demise of DADT

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:46pm

Today marks the official end of the discriminatory policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." For nearly 18 years, DADT forced lesbian, gay and bisexual service members to painstakingly hide their true selves, as well as their partners and spouses, or else face the possibility of having their military career brought to an abrupt end.

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09/19/2011
DADT

ACLU Lens: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Ends Tomorrow, But Not Its Sorry Legacy for Discharged Service Members

By Steve Gosset, ACLU at 2:18pm

You can play "Taps" tomorrow for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevented gay service members from serving openly.

The policy itself will be consigned to the dustbin of history when its repeal takes effect Tuesday. However, its legacy will still be felt by service members honorably discharged during the 18 years DADT was in place.

Richard Collins was one of them. Collins was a decorated Air Force staff sergeant, who was spotted kissing his boyfriend off-base and not in uniform. Collins, who served for nine years, was honorably discharged. But a Pentagon policy dictated that service members booted out of the military for "homosexuality," only receive half of the separation pay they would be entitled to.

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07/12/2011
DADT

Same Old Political Games: Seeking to Delay and Derail DADT Repeal

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:38pm

Last week, during consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act in the House of Representatives, congressional opponents of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) repeal succeeded in attaching two anti-gay, political, "red meat" amendments to the legislation. Despite all the political chatter in D.C. over the debt and deficits, what we often see on the floor of the House and Senate are ideological efforts by certain members of Congress to advance a narrow social agenda that is out of step with the American public while at the same time trying to convince that same public that they are focused like a laser on fiscal discipline and job creation. Guess again!

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07/12/2011
DADT

Same Old Political Games: Seeking to Delay and Derail DADT Repeal

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 1:38pm

Last week, during consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act in the House of Representatives, congressional opponents of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) repeal succeeded in attaching two anti-gay, political, "red meat" amendments to the legislation. Despite all the political chatter in D.C. over the debt and deficits, what we often see on the floor of the House and Senate are ideological efforts by certain members of Congress to advance a narrow social agenda that is out of step with the American public while at the same time trying to convince that same public that they are focused like a laser on fiscal discipline and job creation. Guess again!

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05/13/2011
DADT

If They Could Turn Back Time – on DADT Repeal

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:59pm

Late on Wednesday evening, the House Armed Services Committee adopted a series of harmful amendments designed to delay, derail and turn back the clock on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) repeal implementation. The amendments were added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012.

One amendment would delay repeal implementation by expanding the repeal law's certification requirements to include each service chief for each branch of the armed forces. The law currently stipulates that the repeal will not take effect until President Obama, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that the new law will not have a negative impact on readiness, recruitment, retention, and other key factors affecting the military. Expanding the number of officials required for certification is simply an effort to slow the process down, and something that has been strongly opposed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

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01/21/2011
DADT

DADT – The High Cost of Senseless Discrimination

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:25pm

On Thursday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the impact of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy in terms of lost personnel and cost to the government from 2004-09. The report underlines the importance of the actions Congress and President Obama took in the closing days of 2010 in voting to repeal this ugly relic of history and signing the repeal legislation into law.

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12/21/2010
DADT

Republicans — The Final Nail in DADT’s Coffin

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:15pm

Following Saturday’s historic Senate vote to repeal the discriminatory and unconstitutional “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, I was struck by the undeniable fact that it was Republican support in Congress that ultimately helped to put the final nail in the coffin of this outdated law.

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12/18/2010
DADT

From an Airman: Why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Doesn't Work for Me

By Kristoffer Berrien at 12:36pm

(Kristoffer Berrien has served in the U.S. Air Force nearly 17 years as an Avionics Specialist on multiple aircraft. Currently a reservist stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., Kristoffer lives in the Sacramento area with his wife, who is also in the Air Force, and three children. He has been deployed in support of numerous operations, including Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Joint Forge. His comments are his alone, made as civilian not a member of the military, and do not reflect the views of the Air Force or Department of Defense in any way. He's also a member of the board of directors of the ACLU of Sacramento.)

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12/14/2010
DADT

DADT Repeal Bills Await Congressional Action

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 5:20pm

The Senate is about to vote on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The bill has already passed the House with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.  There is simply no excuse for further delay."

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