The White House fulfilled its promise made to LGBT advocates and allies yesterday, agreeing to back a proposal in the House and Senate to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy (DADT), the discriminatory 17-year-old law banning openly gay and lesbian service members. The promise, which meets the concerns of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, is contingent upon:
- The Pentagon’s Comprehensive Review Working Group’s report on implementing the change, due Dec. 1
- A written certification signed by the president, secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and assurance and that the new policy is “consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention” of the Armed Forces, states a letter from the Office of Management and Budget Director Peter R. Orszag
On Monday, Sens. Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin and Congressman Patrick Murphy wrote a letter to President Barack Obama. In a long-awaited and welcome response, Orszag writes: “The Administration is of the view that the proposed amendment meets the concerns raised by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [Adm. Mike Mullen] [and] such an approach recognizes the critical need to allow our military and their families the full opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process through a thorough understanding of their concerns, insights, and suggestions . The Administration therefore supports the proposed amendment.”
This “deal could win over lawmakers still on the fence about voting to scrap the ban on gays serving openly in the military before the Pentagon has had the chance to complete its yearlong study,” reports The Hill.
