DADT Repeal Language Revealed; Support at 78%

An update on the legislative compromise reached yesterday between the Obama administration and LGBT groups. The language of the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which would authorize the repeal of"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but delay implementation until next year has been revealed.

dadtlanguage

CNN is reporting that nearly 8 out of 10 Americans support repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell and allowing openly gay and lesbian soldiers to serve in the military.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with one in five opposed.

"Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups."

Hopefully this poll will give wavering members of the U.S. Senate Armed Forces the political cover they feel the need to vote to end this discriminatory policy. However, there are members of the LGBT community who are disappointed.

Richard Socarides, a former adviser on LGBT issues to President Clinton, released a statement, saying:

"I know we are all thrilled tonight that there may be a break in the logjam over DADT legislation. And it is always important to keep focused on the art of the possible. This has been a long fight and it is not over.

"I am concerned, however, that the bill released tonight is being mis-characterized. I was expecting to see a bill providing for repeal of DADT now with delayed implementation. As far as I can tell, the proposed legislation instead makes repeal conditional on a future discretionary certification which may or may not occur.

"It may be the best we can get, and if so, I say let's grab it. But it is not repeal with delayed implementation. It's conditional future repeal."

I agree. I think that any compromise should include a moratorium on kicking out and processing discharges until the Department of Defense report comes back on December 1, 2010.