This is the list of countries that have a ban on gays (and lesbians, where women may serve) in the military. We’re in great company:
Cuba, China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United States, Venezuela and Yemen.
I’m assuming I was not alone in receiving the below e-mail this morning from Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese saying that Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, voted against repealing “Don’t ask don’t tell” last month on the House floor. I’m guessing that the message went out to everyone on HRC’s e-mail list who lives in Johnson’s district. But HRC’s e-mail is wrong! Johnson didn’t vote against DADT repeal; she voted for it. You can see records of her vote by going here or here. Johnson is a longtime, staunch LGBT ally who scores a 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for her support of LGBT equality. In short, there’s no way she would vote against DADT repeal. So why would HRC send out this message? I’m still trying to find out, but right now I’m guessing that it’s a computer error. There are four members of Congress with the surname Johnson, two of whom voted against DADT repeal, including Republican Sam Johnson of Texas. I’ve left messages with HRC spokesman Michael Cole, but I haven’t heard back. I’ve also called Eddie Bernice Johnson’s communications director, but was told to call back a little later as everyone was in a staff meeting. I’ll keep you posted.
UPDATE: I just received a message from HRC spokesman Fred Sainz apologizing for the error. Here’s what he said:
“Representative Johnson did in fact vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The email that was sent out this morning incorrectly stated her vote and was a technological glitch for which we have apologized. Our president, Joe Solmonese, has placed a call to the Congresswoman to apologize and we have been in touch with both her congressional and district office staffs to let them know that a corrected email will be going out shortly.
“Representative Johnson has consistently scored 100% on the HRC Congressional Scorecard. She has been a consistent supporter of issues important to the LGBT community and we applaud her for her vote to allow gay and lesbian servicemembers to serve openly and honorably in the United States military.”
In response to the inquiry I mentioned earlier, we just received a statement from Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn’s office. Here’s what Cornyn spokesman Kevin McLaughlin said:
“Sen. Cornyn believes that readiness must remain the highest priority of our military. Right now, the Pentagon is studying how repealing DADT would affect military readiness, and this careful review is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Sen. Cornyn believes Congress should not to act on a possible repeal until that review has been completed.”
We still haven’t received a response from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office.
Yesterday I posted an item about an Action Alert that was issued by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, asking people to call their senators and urge them to support an amendment that would begin the process of repealing “don’t ask don’t tell.” In my post, I suggested that neither of Texas’ two senators, Republicans John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, is at all likely to support the amendment. But Dave Gainer, a board member for SLDN who lives in Tarrant County, says I shouldn’t be so pessimistic — at least not when it comes to Hutchison. In fact, Gainer says there’s hope that if she hears from enough people, Hutchison “just might do the right thing.” Here’s his message:
First, thanks for making people aware of the call to action! Many have worked hard over 17 years to make repeal happen. The next obstacle is the Senate floor vote. There are battles that will follow IF AND ONLY IF the repeal language makes it out of the Senate. While I have not met directly with our senators, I have met with their staff. I think there is hope that Senator Hutchison just might do the right thing! After all, she represents 20 million people of which about 70 percent support repeal according to last month’s Gallup Poll http://www.gallup.com/poll/127904/Broad-Steady-Support-Openly-Gay-Service-Members.aspx#2
That’s a huge number of people! And a heck of a lot of votes. I think she needs to hear directly from her constituents should she doubt the polling numbers. I wouldn’t give up on her just yet — give her a chance to hear from all of us first! I encourage everyone to reach out to her, express their individual support and remind her that this Bill places IMPLEMENTATION of repeal back into the lap of the DOD and the White House. Congress tied their hands in 1993 and, as the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have said – repeal is the right thing to do.
If no one calls from the pre-repeal side, she has no choice but listen to those who do call from the other side. Let’s give her a chance to vote from a position of knowledge. Then, if she fails, we can give up.
Dave
As I said yesterday, I’ve left messages for the press folks in both Cornyn’s and Hutchison’s offices inquiring about their positions on DADT repeal, but thus far I have received no response. The number for Cornyn’s Washington office is 202-224-2934, and the number for Hutchison’s is 202-224-5922.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has issued an Action Alert calling for people to contact their senators and urge them to support the amendment that would begin the process of repealing “don’t ask don’t tell.”
The 2011 defense spending bill that includes the amendment is expected to come to the floor of the Senate this summer, possibly as early as the next few weeks. Republicans are reportedly scouring for the 41 votes needed for a filibuster. There are 41 Republicans in the Senate, but two moderates are expected to support the DADT repeal plan. Which has left opponents trying to recruit a few Democrats to support a filibuster. They may also try to craft an amendment to the amendment that would significantly weaken the DADT repeal compromise.
Anyhow, for those of us in Texas, the SLDN Action Alert may seem like nothing but a call to conduct an exercise in futility. That’s because it’s highly, highly unlikely that either of our two senators, Republicans John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, would support anything approaching a DADT repeal — or even choose not to join a filibuster of the amendment.
I’ve left messages for the press secretaries of both Cornyn and Hutchison, inquiring about the senators’ official positions on a DADT repeal, which has never before been voted on by the Senate. I’ll post their responses if and when they provide them.
In the meantime, if you really believe that it can’t hurt to try, the number for Cornyn’s Washington office is 202-224-2934, and the number for Hutchison’s 202-224-5922.
Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo have reportedly ended the hunger strike they began last Thursday over “don’t ask don’t tell.” Here’s the statement posted Wednesday night on Choi’s website:
“Friends,
“The fast of the past seven days has been a success because people have been educated to the use of fasting as a tool to bring attention to a set of clear political and social demands.
“Tonight, we will end the fast knowing that the inadequacies of the ‘compromise’ to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ are well known. Our quest to end the discharges, stop the insulting study, and institute a non-discrimination policy is not over. In the coming weeks, we will prepare to resume our fast and will provide many ways for those who believe in uncompromising justice to join us.
“On a personal note, we have learned a great deal about the proper planning involved in fasting. We appreciate the concerns that many have expressed. When this fast is resumed, we will be using the proper safeguards to ensure our health is properly attended to. Everyone that considers fasting for an extended period of time must also take proper precautions.”
Back in 1989, the U.S. Army Reserves threw Col. Margarethe “Grethe” Cammermeyer out of the military when she told the truth during a security clearance interview and acknowledged that she was a lesbian.
Today, 21 years later, the Department of Defense announced that Cammermeyer has been appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.
In announcing Cammermeyer’s appointment — and the appointment of a new committee chair and eight other committee members — Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley said the committee’s work is “vital to the development of informed department policy.”
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network sent out a very helpful guide today detailing the path that lies ahead for the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell.” I’ve posted the guide in its entirety after the jump.
A group of LGBT protesters gathered outside the gate to Fort Hood on Memorial Day to call for an immediate end to discharges under “don’t ask don’t tell.” News 8 Austin has the story:
More than two dozen people from all over Central Texas held up signs that read “Gay or straight, all are heroes” and “Stop unjust discharge of gays and lesbians.”
Organizers say they gathered there not only to honor gay and lesbian soldiers who have served and died, but to show their support for gay and lesbian soldiers who are currently serving as well.
“They can’t reach out to us. They can’t be out to tell us. We have to reach out to them,” organizer Irene Andrews said.
Dave Gainer forwarded the following letter to us from retired army colonel Stewart Bornhoft.
He wrote that it was his hope that Texas representatives Joe Barton, Chet Edwards, Gene Green and Dr. “No” Burgess read the letter.
To the 194 Representatives, the 12 Senators, and the 4 Service Chiefs who now find themselves in a minority, we know how you feel. We’ve been there.
When you cast your vote or wrote your letters this week to prolong the prejudice and hypocrisy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, you made a decision that put you on the wrong side of history. There are those in the majority who now are eager to “name and shame” you, but I suggest a higher path. While you shall certainly be held accountable, you still have a chance to set a better course. Act now to voice your support for the goals of the Pentagon Working Group and the policies that will implement honest and open service. We extend a hand to you, hoping you will not push it way and remain sitting in the path of progress, but instead take that hand, stand, and walk forward with us. We will all get there faster.
