National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - Repealing DADT and Military Abortion Ban

The Daily Show on DADT: “It Gets Worse PSA” »

Tell Congress to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” »

Congressional Scorecard: How Did Your House Member Vote on DADT Repeal?

UPDATE: On December 15, 2010, the House of Representatives voted 250 to 175 to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The ACLU welcomed the House vote and strongly urged the Senate to pass the repeal legislation, ensuring it reaches the president’s desk by year’s end.

Congress has once again failed to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. This is a loss for the thousands of lesbian and gay service members who patriotically serve our country but risk being kicked out simply because of who they are. It’s also a loss for the vast majority of Americans who want our government to respect the values of fairness and equality promised in our Constitution.

The ACLU opposed any effort to strip language repealing either the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy or the ban on privately-funded abortions on military bases from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Such an action would remove two important civil liberties advancements from this legislation and runs counter to the Obama administration’s goal of repealing both DADT and the ban on the use of private funds to access abortion care at US military hospitals and medical facilities around the world. The language in the Senate Armed Services Committee-approved version of the NDAA offered important and overdue protections for servicewomen and military dependents, as well as providing those service members who are lesbian, gay or bisexual the opportunity to serve their country with honesty and integrity.

At a time when service members willingly put their lives at risk to preserve our rights and freedom, it is deeply troubling that lesbian, gay and bisexual service members are forced to hide and deny their very selves and that servicewomen are denied access to safe, legal abortion care when they serve abroad. These policies are unjust, unfair and should be repealed. Congress now has the historic opportunity to overturn both policies. We therefore urge you oppose any effort to strip language repealing either “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or the ban on privately-funded abortions on military bases from the NDAA.

Learn More: ACLU Letter to the Senate on Stripping DADT Repeal and the Abortion Ban from the NDAA »

‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Comprehensive Review Working Group Report

Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy (Section 591)

• DADT Repeal Bills Await Congressional Action 12/14/2010
• The Struggle to Repeal DADT Continues 12/13/2010
• DADT Hearing Day 2: Repeal as a “Nonevent” 12/3/2010
• Op-Ed: The Pentagon, Pursuing Justice 12/1/2010
• Op-Ed: ACLU of West Virginia Executive Director Frank Crabtree: Gays Getting Closer to Equality 11/30/2010
• Pentagon Report Adds Critical Support For Ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 11/30/2010
• Pentagon DADT Report Underscores Need for Congressional Action 11/30/2010
• Op-Ed: ACLU of West Virginia Executive Director Frank Crabtree: Allow Gays in the Military 11/29/2010
• Maj. Margaret Witt to Rejoin Air Force While Government Appeals Decision 11/24/2010
• Air Force Major Dismissed Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” To Rejoin The Military 11/23/2010
• Sen. McCain, Enough with Stonewalling the DADT Repeal 11/16/2010
• Department of Defense to Service Members: Homos Get Half 11/10/2010
• ACLU Letter to the Senate on Stripping DADT Repeal and the Abortion Ban from the NDAA 11/10/2010
• Collins v. United States – Class Action for Military Separation Pay 11/10/2010
• ACLU Challenges Discriminatory Military Policy Cutting In Half Separation Pay For Honorably Discharged Gay And Lesbian Service Members 11/10/2010

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Repeal Ban on Privately-Funded Abortions at Military Facilities (Section 713)

• Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) Letter on Private Funding of Abortion in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act 6/30/2010
• Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Lift the Ban on Privately Funded Abortion Services for Women in the Military 11/16/2010
• California’s Military Women Support Our Freedom. Shouldn’t We Support Theirs? 8/27/2010
• Clarification On Facts vs. Fiction 6/24/2010
• Facts vs. Fiction on the Military’s Abortion Ban 6/10/2010
• The Senate Acts to Ensure that Service Women Can Use Private Funds to Access Abortion Care 5/28/2010
• Senate Committee Votes To Repeal Ban On Private Funding Of Abortion On Military Bases 5/27/2010

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