Army Secretary Won’t Personally Pursue DADT Investigations

Jim Burroway

March 31st, 2010

As we’ve reported, the Defense Department is in the midst of a wide-ranging study on how it would implement the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” One would hope that part of that study would include talking to LGBT servicemembers who are currently serving, but of course that brings up a hitch: hearing from LGBT service menbers would violate the “don’t tell” part of DADT, while seeking them out would presumably violate “don’t ask.” But the New York Times is reporting that this won’t deter Army secretary John M. McHugh. He will simply ignore DADT while taking with active-duty service members:

But Mr. McHugh, who spoke at a breakfast with Pentagon reporters, said it made no sense to pursue discharges of service members as he speaks with them about the change in policy. Mr. Obama, Mr. Gates and Admiral Mullen have all asked commanders to assess opinion within the military about the change in law.

Mr. McHugh said it would be “counterproductive” to “take disciplinary action against someone who spoke with me openly and honestly.” He said the Pentagon was still trying to devise a way to more formally poll large numbers of service members about their views on changing the law.

Edwin

March 31st, 2010

Who is Mr. McHuge fooling.
Any LGBT person that would talk to him they would try to figure a way to kick them out.
Just repeal this dumb law and get on with life.

Paul in Canada

April 1st, 2010

Hmmmm…. an anonomous intranet web-based survey?

Thomas

April 1st, 2010

Interesting analysis on DADT yesterday by Andrew Sullivan. Have to say he is spot on and that likely it’s not going away any time soon:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/03/defanging-dadt.html#more

Aaron

April 1st, 2010

To me this could be one more sign that DADT is falling to pieces.

johnathan

April 1st, 2010

In relation to DADT investigations and the Army, I am still suspicious of the Army Secretary’s statement that he won’t “personally” pursue DADT investigations. To be precise, I don’t see this statement as some sign the policy is crumbling within the Army as a whole. Who is to say this statement is to stop any other officer from investigating a DADT claim under his or her purview, unless each DADT discharge “personally” lies at the behest of the Army Secretary himself. (If anyone knows this to be true, please let me know, because as far as I believe…)

customartist

April 2nd, 2010

Re:

{Mr. McHugh said it would be “counterproductive” to “take disciplinary action against someone who spoke with me openly and honestly.” }

The entire Policy is “counterproductive”
to the military. Are the numbers of Straights currently in the Military who still have crippling phobias greater than the number of Gays who are there and performing well?

I remember generalized phobias with blacks which was similarly justified as being valid.

Will Military leaders also “speak to” Straight personnel? Talking to SOME Gays, and not others provides protections to some and not those others who weren’t selected. How will they be selected if they cannot “tell”? I wouldn’t trust that telling now wouldn’t come up at a later time to bite me.

How ignorant and lagging behind other countries we are!

johnathan

April 2nd, 2010

Gee, I knew it was too good to be true, even from the upper-ups themselves: http://azstarnet.com/news/national/article_bbaac66b-aa70-50a3-b669-5e689eaf3028.html. I am sure this is from an AP report, but the link is to my local paper.

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.