WASHINGTON — The two ranking Republicans on U.S. House Armed Services Committee have asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to delay the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” scheduled for next Tuesday, Sept. 20, claiming that certain regulations regarding military benefits for same sex couples have not been revised.
In a letter dated Monday, Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), and Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-S.C.), who chairs the Military Personnel subcommittee, wrote that the government’s decision to certify the end of the policy on July 22 was “inaccurate” because the House has “not received copies of the revised regulations and a summary of all the specific policy changes.”
“Mr. Secretary, we trust that you will see the risk of moving forward with repeal without giving service members and their leaders adequate time to study, understand and prepare themselves to implement the revised policies and regulations they will need to be successful,” the letter reads.
[...]
“The Department is not ready to implement the repeal because all the policies and regulations necessary for the transition are not yet final. We would ask that the senior military leaders’ memoranda immediately be made public and transmitted to the Committee on Armed Services.”
The request has previously been denied by the Defense Department, and in response, the Pentagon issued this statement:
“The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will occur, in accordance with the law and after a rigorous certification process, on September 20. Senior Department of Defense officials have advised Congress of changes to regulations and policies associated with repeal. We take that obligation seriously.”
On Thursday, General Carter Ham, Commander of U.S. Armed Forces Europe — who was co-chair of the Pentagon’s study group that examined the effects on military services if “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed — predicted that lifting the ban against open service by gay and lesbian service members is probably going to prove “pretty inconsequential.”
Ham told the Associated Press that conservative groups may still speak out in support of the policy, but those whom are inside the military will adopt a “business-as-usual” attitude.
“This is another example of the hardcore opposition attempting to delay or undo ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in a statement.
“I expect they will continue to look for openings to deny gay and lesbian service members the same rights and dignity as their straight counterparts. On the substance, Mr. McKeon and Mr. Wilson are simply wrong. The statute only requires that the new regulations be prepared — not issued — before certification,” Sarvis said.
Related articles:
Gay WW II veteran finally sees discharge changed from 'undesirable' to 'honorable'
Hundreds of service members discharged under DADT expected to reenlist
Congressman seeks protections for 'straight troops' as DADT repeal approaches
'OutServe' magazine to hit military bases same day 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ends
Reaction: LGBT, equality advocates hail historic end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Obama, Pentagon certify repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' -- ban ends in 60 days
Filed under: National Headlines
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Harvey: Gays deserve to be fired for displaying their lifestyles to everyone
Anti-gay marriage activist commits suicide on alter at Notre Dame cathedral
Candidate for Va. Lt. Governor warns same-sex marriage leads to bestiality
Bryan Fischer: The Boy Scouts are now the ‘Boy Sodomizers of America’
ACLU, attorney condemn prosecution of teen who had sex with minor girlfriend
Sex and the teenage girl: The Kaitlyn Hunt tragedy
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Transgender student skips graduation rather than wear female gown
Attorney implies suspect’s child sexual abuse was a factor NYC killing
Iowa anti-gay activist explains his opposition to gay marriage: ‘It’s awful’
Details emerge in case against teen accused of lewd behavior with girlfriend
Lesbian teen charged in relationship with underage girlfriend rejects plea deal
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
BREAKING: Boy Scouts of America votes to rescind policy banning openly gay scouts
Republicans are idiots
Final push? They’ll never stop pushing.
Republicans are traitors!
I’m so fucking sick of these assholes.
KUNTZ!!!
Republicanism is hate, bigotry and intolerance
I think everyone hates the Republicans except the republicans. This is what I have to believe
Ok its not all republicans its idiots and ignorant ppl period… not all reepublicans are horrible
How about we give the Republicans a final push over the cliff!!!
@ Jami, I am not going assume that you are Republican, but why would someone align themselves with a party that does not have the interests of all people in mind?
Sounds like they better hurry up and get to work on those changes rather than working so hard to stop the repeal.
Just because the house republicans are to scared to come out of the closet doesn’t mean everybody else has to “not ask or not tell”
these people never stop being bigots. For if one little crack in their faith is seen to occur, the whole rotten mess will collapse.
the problems are the southern based xtians, though their poison has spread all over the nation. They of course are the heirs to the religious culture that justified slavery as per the bible. And gave us segregation and the KKK
And the catholic church – to see what they are about, just go to the website I stumbled upon
HTTP://NOBELIEFS.COM/NAZIS.HTM And be horrified
Those who dislike the gays lesbians etc.. All need to grow a pair of balls and stfu Its not their business what someone else’s sexual preference is they are just unhappy with themselves so they gotta mess with others typical bully
@jillian whether i am a republican or not makes no difference… the gov doesnt have anyone elses interest in mind period they are all about putting money in their own pockets… they should stop worring about something like gays doing what they have been doing for year just openly now and focus on real issues… they need to stop cutting money in the military and cut money in their paychecks…
They want to delay it but they can’t stop it ha ha nice try all it is, is sayin what your orientation is the rest is details that can be taken care of. We want our marriage rights next!!!
I think that the government really just wants control and there isn’t a lot of fight against the government. Wish people would fight more. The world isn’t what it used to be back way before I was born haha. I only read it in history books and watch it on the history channel. Sigh, just need to fight to make our world right again.
Hey its repeating history all over again we got through the last one we will get through this ONE!!
effen neatherthals
@Jami, you are barking up the wrong tree. Go talk to your rep and Senator. If they are not doing what you think they should be doing, vote them out! Hey, who do you think put huge amounts of cash in the contractors pockets. No wonder the miliatary got its paychecks cut. But then again, Republicans put us in two wars!
@jillian what are you doing to make a difference besides talking about someone else that may have different views than you?
Its the GOP freshman who are the fuckwits jamming this up. The TeaBuggers are changing language and tactics…..same sex couples are being referred to as unmarried partners. This simple rewording has and is moving along many policies and laws…both new and old. Its insidious and more damaging to our basic rights !!
They want to stall so they can repeal the repeal if a republican gets elected to the White House…get out and VOTE to stop the hate !!!
So…REVISE THEM!
The government needs to stay out of peoples sex lives…END OF STORY
What is with these Repulicans you have down there. They seem to be so against gay people and issues and yet many of them have been caught in the middle of Gay Scandals. I say leave us be and let us have our own life, you have yours and we do not dusturb you, please respect our privacy, Amen
To all the Gay and Lesbians in Washington, we support you all the way. We are two countries with the same desire to be acknowedged as individuals in a peace keeping nation. thanks
Let them “roast” in their hell….
i would say some republicans are not americans. they don’t hold the value of america at all.