Despite some reasons for optimism, a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” has failed—for now. Sixty votes were needed to advance the Defense Authorization bill to the Senate floor, but Democrats lost the vote 57-40.
Carrie Dann of MSNBC wrote:
Ultimately, Majority Leader Harry Reid called for the vote without having reached a procedural agreement with moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who supports repeal but wanted greater openness for the process of amending and passing the bill. Collins voted aye on the measure, but other Republicans who support repeal but had voiced similar procedural concerns—Sens. Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowski—voted no.
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote no.
With today’s failure, a DADT repeal isn’t expected to be passed by Congress any time soon. A repeal is also being considered by the courts, but as Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned, a court repeal “could mean a hasty and disorderly implementation of a change.”
This is disappointing, sort of. While the military sadly continues a policy of regarding gay men as less than men, it also is a concern that gay men would actually pursue a political position as cannon fodder (a common but dysfunctional qualification for manhood) in order to feel a sense of inclusion.
I am still seething over the Senate’s vote on repealing DADT and all the other federal laws/policies that keep me from being a full and equal citizen. Today, I was reminded that I am a second class citizen in my own country, even though I I pay over my full share of taxes since I am not allowed to marry my partner. Sure, life is unfair and my community will just have to work harder. But this is the simple truth: if white straight men were prohibited from marrying the woman of their choice or from serving in the military,… Read more »
So what do you think now Joe???????