A Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Begins with an Executive Order

categories: LGBT Rights and Politics, LGBT Rights and the Military, Obama Administration and Gay Rights

Published June 24, 2009 @ 01:09PM PT

Obama

Despite the fact that the thought seems to make the Obama administration skittish, it seems clear that in order to move a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" forward, action must start with the Executive Branch first. That's not only the conclusion reached by the Palm Center in California, and by 77 members of the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week. It's also the conclusion reached by the Center for American Progerss (CAP), which released a report today detaling the "practical steps" that need to happen in order to stop a flawed military policy that has fired more than 260 gay and lesbian soldiers since Obama took office in January.

CAP's first suggested step for ending Don't Ask? "Signing an Executive Order banning further military separations based on DADT and sending a legislative proposal on DADT repeal to Congress." Which means action, if folks from the Obama administration are reading.

Here are some of the statistics cited by the CAP report. Reading this, it becomes even clearer that Obama should publicly start the wheels turning now to end this bad policy:

DADT has resulted in the discharge of more than 13,000 patriotic and highly qualified men and women since its enactment more than 16 years ago;

At least 1,000 of these 13,000 have held “critical occupations,” such as interpreters and engineers;

Approximately 4,000 service members leave the service voluntarily per year because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell";

By the end of fiscal year 2003, a few months after the fall of Baghdad, the military had forced out more than 320 service members with vital language skills such as Arabic and Farsi; and

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is no longer supported by the majority of the American people, nor is it even supported by a majority of service men and women.

It would be a sign of national security strength for Obama to take leadership on this issue and sign an executive order suspending the firing of openly gay and lesbian soldiers. Yes, legislation is necessary to put "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" into a grave. But legislation is not necessary to put an immediate halt to the discrimination unleashed by the U.S. Armed Forces.

According to CAP, here are steps they're recommending for the Obama administration as a means of addressing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":

1. Sign an Executive Order banning further military separations based on DADT and sending a legislative proposal on DADT repeal to Congress

2. Form a presidential panel on how to implement the repeal

3. Repeal DADT in Congress and change the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, or UCMS

4. Change other necessary military guidelines to conform to the new policy

5. Follow-up to ensure that the armed forces implement the policy changes

Obama can and should start this on his end. Anything less will keep in place a policy that makes the U.S. less safe, and will send the message that the military isn't strong enough to handle a fully integrated and equal membership.

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Comments (21)

President Truman desegregated the military with an executive order and President Obama can do the same with DADT. He promised and it's time. We are losing valuable members of the service to this ludicrous policy. It's time to get rid of it. The military will survive and thrive. Move on.

Susan Berland
http://susanberland.yolasite.com/
Turning your stories and photos into a legacy

Posted by Susan Berland on 06/24/2009 @ 02:02PM PT
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What I don't understand is why there would be any hesitation by Obama and his Fierce Urgency of Now. Whatever his reasons for inaction, they have escaped me and most of the public.

I suspect he sold out to someone, got some whopper contribution somewhere that, perhaps, held the contingency that he not repeal DADT until 2011.

If Obama is who he claimes to be, it just doesn't make sense that he delay this situation any longer. He is obviously delaying with intent, but the lack of clear reason for his inaction is contrary with his prior policy of transperancy.

Perhaps I'm just naïve in having the audacity of hope for an honest politician.

Posted by Derek Boain on 06/24/2009 @ 02:36PM PT
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Yep...Its long past the time to repeal both D.O.M.A. and D.A.D.T.

In fact...Neither of those laws should have been enacted or implemented in the first place.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 06/24/2009 @ 03:44PM PT
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We really need all service members to come out and when the military has to discharge them all, Obama will have to step in. As long as they keep quiet nothing happens.

Those who stay in the closet hurts us all.

Posted by Sean Stidham on 06/24/2009 @ 06:13PM PT
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Yep...We need for them to come forward and be counted.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/06/2009 @ 10:56AM PT
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President Obama must sign an executive order which would suspend the intolerant 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In addition, the intolerant 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not of our time, but of another time of which this intolerance was acceptable to many. It's good that pressure is building for its repeal in the form of the letter signed by 77 House of Representatives along with a poll that found even a majority of conservatives support its repeal.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 06/24/2009 @ 06:57PM PT
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for DEREK, "What I don't understand is why there would be any hesitation by Obama and hisFierce Urgency of Now. Whatever his reasons for inaction, they have escaped me and most of the public."

...for those of us 'older' folk, this is a very simple question.

Clinton was told he would not win a second term if he supported gays. Over half of the current WH staff is from the Clinton era. ergo. They all are recommending the same thing.

Of course, in l992 less than 29% of the US supported Gay Rights. ... the current poll shows that 69% Support the Elimination of DADT. Guess those old Clinton people can't read polls.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 06/24/2009 @ 09:06PM PT
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Totally agree with Derek's question and totally agree with Lee's answer.

To me, even President Obama issues the executive order to the DADT policy today, he won't be recognized as my fierce advocate for LGBTs anymore because a fierce advocate doesn't need to be pushed this hard especially when everything around him except his team shows that DADT is not practical and has to go.

I am extremely disappointed.

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 06/25/2009 @ 03:18PM PT
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I forget to say that of course I still need DADT to be gone. Never too late! But my point is that the president is not a fierce advocate!

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 06/25/2009 @ 03:20PM PT
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Disappointed is hardly the word!

I worked my ass off for Mr. Obama and the Democratic ticket in the last election, though I was disgusted with what I had hoped was a disingenuous attitude toward same-sex marriage.   I guess I wanted to believe it was a calculating political move to keep certain christians on the fold on November 4.

But now I am so furious at his betrayal by backing off action on DADT and DOMA; as well as the nauseating defense of DOMA in court cases, that I respond to every e-mailed and snail-mailed Democratic request for action and MONEY (and there are 4 or 5 a week!) with the following statement:

NOT ANOTHER PENNY UNTIL PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES GOOD ON HIS PROMISES ON DOMA AND DADT AND RESPECT FOR THE GLBT COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

NO SOPS, NO THROWN BONES, NO SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.                                              AND I AM A MIDDLE-AGED HETEROSEXUAL (EX?)-SUPPORTER!

What is the problem?!                           I worked for African-American rights in the 60's, Women's rights in the 70's and Gay Rights now.

         IT'S THE CIVIL RIGHTS, STUPID.

Posted by flo goodman on 07/04/2009 @ 11:38AM PT
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I'm fast losing my faith in him. He could stop the removal with an executive order, but I believe that he's trying to get bi-partisanship, he seems to be bowing to them on this issue. He needs to remember who voted for him, and it certainly wasn't the congressional republicans! He needs to grow a pair, and stand up for our rights. The pride fest here in the Quad Cities is: "your rights, my rights, human rights." Truer words were never spoken.

Posted by gilbert barrett on 06/26/2009 @ 12:07PM PT
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I don't understand why he needs bi-partisan support, which I totally agree with you that he seems to need it. I don't understand because even Republicans are supporting to repeal DADT!

I am reading the book called "The Progressive Project" by Michael Lux, and I totally agree with the author that Republicans have the culture of corruption and Democrats have the culture of cautions.

And this DADT has nothing to be cautious at all. I still totally don't understand the President Obama for this point! I hope he can explain this in the future!

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 06/26/2009 @ 09:30PM PT
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I'm disgusted with Obama. He screwed us, pure and simple. Anyone who has to be pushed that hard into doing the right thing is not worth my respect. I expected better from him...I've yet to see better.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 06/26/2009 @ 08:24PM PT
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Um...has anyone taken a anything at all resembling a government class, or high school civics? Your starting to sound like the right wing nuts on TV.

It doesn't matter what Palm Center thinks, the president does not have the authority to overturn something mandated by Federal Law...ONLY the federal courts and congress does. Any such action by Obama would be immediately challenged in Federal court by one of the right wing groups.

Yeah it might make a lot of people feel better, but it would be an ultimately useless gesture. This needs to be repealed by Congress or ruled un constitutional by Federal courts.

Oh, and for those drawing a parallel between Obama and Truman's desegregation of the military, Truman was not issuing an order in violation of Federal Law.

I want to see these laws end now, but making these demands and these criticisms of Obama (aside from the recent DOJ statement on DOMA) are on the wrong track.It doesn't accomplish anything.

Go after congress

Posted by William Brown on 07/02/2009 @ 11:04PM PT
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The president doesn't have to repeal it. He can just issue the executive order to stop the investigation, then urge the congress to repeal it. This approach has been discussed all over all kinds of media.

I have been and will be his fierce supporter in all issues, but when it comes to this basic equal rights, I need to see the fierce from him - not only words, but actions.

But then again, I will wait for a year to see what he will do in his second year. It's not that far off. Time flies.

In the mean time, the LGBT grassroot should not stop working. I always remember Harvel Milk - Rights will never come to you; you have to demand it.

I am really looking for A MILLION MARCH IN DC on October 11.

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 07/03/2009 @ 02:52PM PT
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I think all military soldiers who supports don't ask don't tell should just all come out too and let the world see how serious this situation is, we need more action and less words. The more we push the President to talk about the issue and urge him to take action the better. We need to keep this topic in the news and on the media.

Posted by Charles Reeves on 07/05/2009 @ 01:43PM PT
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I totally agree with this approach. I would love to see all soldiers and generals to come out and say they're all gays even though they're not. I want to see how this Adminstration will do!

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 07/06/2009 @ 09:51AM PT
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Mr. reeves...Why would you want the supporters of D.A.D.T. to come out ?

I would think, sir, that theyre already out at least as far as their position.

What we need, in my opinion, is for all the soldiers of ALL ranks who OPPOSE D.A.D.T. to speak out publicly against it.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/06/2009 @ 10:51AM PT
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Mr. tantakarn...I would think that if soldiers lie about being gay when theyre not...That the end result would actually tend to do more harm than good, by giving ammo to the homohaters in the form of it being a choice rather than 1 of 3 possible sexual orientations.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 07/06/2009 @ 10:55AM PT
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Oh no... I don't mean for them to lie, and I am sure people know that doing that is just to support his fellow commanders or his team. Just to show the support. It's a symbolic.

Posted by Peter Tantakarn on 07/07/2009 @ 12:36AM PT
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I am one of the few SALIORS that has been removed from the ARMED FORCES because of the DADT policy. I want to serve my country by being able to be myself without hiding who I truly am. I feel that this policy needs to be thrown out so that I can reenlist to do my job as an engineer. I got released in 08 and I don't know how long before he throws it out but I don't want to have to wait FOREVER neither. I want justice and I want the right TO BE MYSELF just like everyone else.

Posted by Tempestt Gordon on 10/09/2009 @ 09:58PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.