last updated 2011.09.29.1606z
From yesterday’s Washington Times:
After demise of ‘don’t ask,’ activists call for end to military ban on transgenders
By Rowan Scarborough
The Washington Times
Wednesday, September 28, 2011With homosexuals now able to serve openly in the military, the gay rights movement’s next battleground is to persuade the Obama administration to end the armed forces’ ban on “transgenders,” a group that includes transsexuals and cross-dressers.
“Our position is that the military should re-examine the policy, the medical regulations, so as to allow open service for transgender people,” said Vincent Paolo Villano, spokesman for the 6,000-member Center for Transgender Equality.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which pushed to end the military’s gay ban, is urging President Obama to sign an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on “gender identity.”
[snip]
“SLDN supports the revision of medical regulations to ensure that transgender Americans may serve.”
[snip]
Transgenders are not banned by law, but rather by a Defense Department instruction, “Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment or Induction in the Military Service.”
[snip]
In a letter to Mr. Obama, SLDN Director Aubrey Sarvis wrote: “We … call on you to show the leadership President Truman did when he issued an Executive Order banning racial discrimination in the armed services and to issue an Executive Order prohibiting discrimination in the armed services based on sexual orientation and gender identity to be effective on the date of repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
I suspect this isn’t what Truman had in mind at the time. On the other hand:
Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican and Marine Corps combat veteran, said: “At some point, the administration will need to decide where this ranks among the military’s priorities. But it should send the message now that a line has been drawn, and it won’t get caught up in these discussions. I hope the administration has enough sense to see this for the unneeded distraction it is.”
At least there appears to be a smidgen of sanity left in “Khali-four-knee-ah” — or however you prefer to spell it.
Scouring the internet for a clue as to what our esteemed Fearless Leader might be inclined to do in this circumstance, we have:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release May 28, 2010
Presidential Proclamation–Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.
[snip]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
Any questions? It’s only a matter of when.
Ciao,
Dennis
P.S. Wonder if this is what Charles Krauthammer had in mind when he suggested that the repeal of DADT was “an idea whose time had come”?
A journalist, Lawrence Auster, has noted that movement conservatives have been conspicuously silent on having openly gay soldiers serve in the military or else, like FOX commentators, have been ardently behind the change. Charles Krauthammer and Bill Kristol were so unreservedly positive on FOX that their fellow-news commentator Juan Williams, a black Democrat, stared at them in disbelief. Williams asked them whether the change they wanted could be carried out as easily as they suggested.
AMERICA’S LEADING GAY NEWS SOURCEpolitical news
Donald Rumsfeld endorses ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal
February 14, 2011
By Chris JohnsonThe former defense chief who served under President George W. Bush has endorsed repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and said open service in the U.S. military is “an idea whose time has come.”
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who also headed the Pentagon under President Ford, made remarks in favor of ending the military’s gay ban to ABC Radio on Friday.
“First of all, we know that gays and lesbians have been serving in the military for decades with honorable service,” Rumsfeld said. “We know that [repeal of a ban on gays serving openly] is an idea whose time has come.”
Guess that settles it.
Oops! Almost forgot about Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown’s address at the Log Cabin Republicans’ “Spirit of Lincoln Awards Dinner” on September 20th:
It’s an honor to be here tonight to receive this Spirit of Lincoln award.
As many of you here know, I approach each and every issue that comes before the Senate in an open-minded and independent manner.
I’ve been in the Senate for a little more than a year-and-a-half, and I am proud to say that I vote in the best interest of our state and our country. On every issue that comes before us – ranging from jobs bills, financial reform, the START Treaty- and the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell– I have done my due diligence, made sure I understood the issue, have acted independently and voted regardless of what political party was the prime sponsor of the bill.
Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a perfect example of my approach.
cont’d. . .
Got that right. Just another campaign promise in the trash.
“Log Cabin Republicans”? How they describe themselves may be seen here.