Comments on: Ruby-Sachs: Howard Dean Says Repealing DADT Will Make the DOMA Defense Brief OK

By: Scott P.

Scott P. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:36:02 +0000

Jay,

The only brief I’m aware of is the DoMA one, which (in a round about way) compared our relationships to incest and pedophilia. No brief has been filed about DADT, as far as I know. Don’t think there needs to be one, since it’s a presidential policy, not a law (I could be wrong about that, but I don’t think so).

By: Jay W.

Jay W. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:07:22 +0000

Is there an online copy of the defense of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” brief that President Obama’s DOJ presented to the Supreme Court? I have made several searches including, “Pietrangelo v Gates.” Despite more than a couple of hours of effort, the results have been frustratingly unfruitful.

A URL or even a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

By: S. Baker

S. Baker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:23:20 +0000

I’m with you Emma.
As a former military member, a GLBT community member and a partnered mother of an adult son…NO “DADT” is not even close to sufficient. Honestly “DADT” never really affect me, it wasn’t signed into policy until after I had already seperated from the military. I actuaully served under a much more severe policy. What’s worse is the nothing of a policy granting “certain” benefits to Federal Employee Domestic Partners. (Which really amounts to nothing!)

I’m sorry, but I pay taxes, I served my country…why is it too much to ask to be afforded the same rights, privledges and protections I served to defend for EVERY citizen?

By: Patrick (gryph)

Patrick (gryph) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:19:21 +0000

No, its not enough, but repealing DADT is important. More important than marriage rights, and it always has been. Except the gay and lesbian community has been too stupid to see it. The roots of the civil rights movement didn’t start with MLK, they started with desegregation of the military. Military service is one of the great equalizers in American history and politics. It wasn’t until blacks and whites were literally forced to live with each other that there began to be some movement in civil rights for black Americans.

The same goes for gay servicemembers.
Its easy for someone in a small town in Iowa to dismiss some bar-hopping WeHo boy in LA. Its a lot harder to do that when that someone is from your own town who served with you and bled with you when it counted. It may not bring approval, but it does help toward getting acceptance. And its only when we stop being The Other that we will be free.

By: Gemma Hentsch

Gemma Hentsch — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:11:49 +0000

When i was watching the RMS, i actually felt sick, and sadly vindicated… Obama may be very brilliant, but our cause will always be pushed to the side for political expediance. Clinton betrayed the LGBT community, and nothing short of Obama spending a fair amount of his political capital repealing DADT and DOMA very soon he’s not really worth supporting. I think may be time for a new candidate in 2012… maybe Gavin Newsom… or even Howard Dean…i’m certainly hoping that the names Clinton and Obama end up on the same political scrapheap as the name Bush…

By: drewski

drewski — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:50:38 +0000

KenBSTN, I’d like to think you’re right, but neither Obama nor Holder can be accused of stupidity. Obama lectured on constitutional law. Nobody can convince me that what comes out of DOJ does not at some point go through Obama’s office.

I don’t see any way for Obama the lecturer on constitutional law to get a pass on the content of that DOJ brief. Holder should feel uncomfortable too, because it’s the Attorney General who is presenting this brief. Remember several years ago when a certain Republican President questioned the need to renew the Civil Rights Act? In some respects, what Holder and Obama have done with the DOJ brief is more telling and more offensive than that. No, I don’t think that this Adminstration is going to put out garbage to sink a discriminatory law; I think they told more truth then maybe they intended to. Maybe I’m wrong, would like to be wrong, but it’s Obama who backed his Adminstration into this corner.

By: KenBSTN

KenBSTN — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:36:34 +0000

Obama’s commitment to LGBT rights may be fully intact. The DOJ brief may have intentionally put forth weak and facially derrogatory arguments with hope that their position will fail before the courts.

By: equalnotspecial

equalnotspecial — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:13:45 +0000

Repeal of DADT is essential. It not only mandates discrimination but teaches discrimination is acceptable. That teaches prejudice, not only to thousands of military voters, but to the country as a whole. We will never achieve full equality as long as the government continues to teach discrimination. It affects all of us because it marginalizes and stigmatizes all of us. Repeal and replacement with a non-discrimination policy should be a priority.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:17:18 +0000

The real test will be the DOJ’s brief on June 29 to GLAD’s challenge to DOMA in Mass. District Court.

By: John

John — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:47:44 +0000

I for one am fine with Democrats thinking that repealing DADT while defending DOMA is “enough”. Let them think that. I’ll take the huge step forward such a repeal will make…while still pushing strongly to have DOMA quashed as well.