[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/20/dont-ask-dont-tell-ends[/url]
[quote=The Guardian]An 18-year-old law that prevented serving US military personnel from disclosing that they were gay has been formally repealed.
At one minute past midnight eastern time (0401 GMT), the controversial don't ask don't tell (DADT) law was abolished after its repeal was signed into law some nine months ago.
Introduced by President Clinton in 1993 as a compromise step to full equality, DADT allowed gay and lesbian members of the military to serve only if their sexuality remained secret or was not reported.
The Servicemembers Legal Defence Network estimates that since the law's introduction, 13,000 gay men and lesbians have been discharged after their sexual orientation was revealed.
In some cases dismissals were made on the basis of testimony from jilted lovers or those with personal grievances.
Barack Obama had pledged to overturn DADT during his 2008 election campaign, but action on the issue appeared stalled until his January 2010 state of the union speech. Injecting fresh energy into the cause Obama said: "This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."
The call was met with stony silence from members of the military seated in front of the president, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Days later, the then defence secretary, Robert Gates, told Senate hearings: "The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we … best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the commander-in-chief and we are moving out accordingly."
In March 2010 the Pentagon relaxed rules surrounding DADT. The military decided to no longer investigate anonymous complaints and third party testimony had to be sworn under oath.
An internal survey commissioned by the Pentagon and released last year found that two-thirds of all military personnel supported the repeal.
Navy Lieutenant Gary Ross, 33, and Dan Swezy, a 49-year-old civilian, travelled from their home in Arizona to get married in Vermont and take advantage of the law's repeal the moment it came into effect.
The two men recited vows before family and friends at a ceremony which began at 11.45pm on Monday night. Just after midnight, the partners of 11 years were married.
"I think it was a beautiful ceremony. The emotions really hit me … but it's finally official," Ross said.
Polls have consistently showed that roughly two-thirds of Americans believe gay men and lesbians should be able to disclose their sexual orientation and serve openly.[/quote]
Sounds gay
I like how your british, posting about the american militaries policies :|
hats off to you
Still 13,000 people got kicked out and will more then likely never get their job back. Kinda a big deal if you ask me, being wrongfully terminated and forced out of the military - not based on work ethic, attitude or their capabilities, but because of their sexual orientation.
Fucking finally.
[QUOTE=MR-X;32393573]Still 13,000 people got kicked out and will more then likely never get their job back. Kinda a big deal if you ask me, being wrongfully terminated and forced out of the military - not based on work ethic, attitude or their capabilities, but because of their sexual orientation.[/QUOTE]And who knows, one of those gay soldiers might have been able to kill Osama 5 years earlier.
Whoa, seriously? No Tea Party mass God fearin' protests or anything?
If I was a gay guy in the military, I don't know that I really would want everyone to know I was gay. I think I would be in constant fear for my life.
[QUOTE=valkery;32393624]If I was a gay guy in the military, I don't know that I really would want everyone to know I was gay. I think I would be in constant fear for my life.[/QUOTE]
Is america really that bad?
Here it's basically applauded when you come out.
You smell that? That's the smell of basic human rights and progress! wonderful
[QUOTE=Miskav;32393644]Is america really that bad?
Here it's basically applauded when you come out.[/QUOTE]
In the American MILITARY possibly.
Where I am (California), gay people like myself aren't hard to find.
DADT didn't make sense what so ever.
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;32393661]You smell that? That's the smell of basic human rights and progress! wonderful[/QUOTE]Smells better than someone cooking bacon for you downstairs when you wake up hungover.
[QUOTE=Thom12255;32393712]DADT didn't make sense what so ever.[/QUOTE]
this is mmericuh we're talking about. they dont take kindly to no faggots queerin up their army folk
[QUOTE=NvRdie;32393560]I like how your british, posting about the american militaries policies :|
hats off to you[/QUOTE]
My British what?
Yea, grammar nazi, etc.
In 20 years we're going to laugh at ourselves, this whole gay discrimination thing will be abolished just like slavery.
Just you wait.
[QUOTE=NvRdie;32393560]I like how your british, posting about the american militaries policies :|
hats off to you[/QUOTE]
I wasn't aware the United States had more than one military. Also, his British what?
[QUOTE=ScoobySnax;32394988]In 20 years we're going to laugh at ourselves, this whole gay discrimination thing will be abolished just like slavery.
Just you wait.[/QUOTE]
Doubtful, racism is still around
[QUOTE=smurfy;32396098]Doubtful, racism is still around[/QUOTE]
Perhaps generally frowned upon as a whole?
If someone's willing to put their own life in danger for their country I couldn't give 2 shits if they were gay. And neither should anyone else.
There are much bigger problems that people should be focusing on than homosexuality.
[QUOTE=Test Card F;32397020][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5336964413_741a4834f2.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Compare the happy faces with the guy who is alone in the lower row.
[QUOTE=Test Card F;32397020][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5336964413_741a4834f2.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
What the fuck is the black guy on the 2nd row on the right doing?
Casting ice blast?
These perverts are pushing their sick disease on us more and more. They're even homo-indoctrinating our kids down to the kindergarten level! They want to force the rest of us to validate their disgusting lifestyle!
SICK!
[sub][sub][sub]fox news comment[/sub][/sub][/sub]
Good for them! One basic human right at a time.
USA should invade themselves to spread basic human rights like they did in Iraq.
And maybe get some of their own oil while they are at it. :v:
Better late than never! At least Obama managed to keep one promise he made to the progressives.
Good. Finally.
[QUOTE=Miskav;32397283]What the fuck is the black guy on the 2nd row on the right doing?
Casting ice blast?[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_bx_9QYt7k[/url]
1:25.
You can all load up your "Generic RPG victory music" playlists now.
[QUOTE=smurfy;32393526][URL]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/20/dont-ask-dont-tell-ends[/URL][/QUOTE]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M[/media]
That is all.
[QUOTE=Shiftyze;32393595]And who knows, one of those gay soldiers might have been able to kill Osama 5 years earlier.[/QUOTE]
That's a little far fetched, don't you think?
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