July 22nd, 2011
In accordance with the terms set out in the legislation terminating the Military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have now certified that the Department of Defense has now prepared the necessary policies and regulations and that such policies and regulations are consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.
It’s official. While the change will not go into effect for another 60 days, the policy restricting the open service of gays and lesbians in the military has been certified dead.
Many people and organizations played an role in this change. And many deserve credit. And you will receive emails from several today claiming that credit and asking you for money.
But one organization which has, in my opinion, contributed far beyond most will probably get scant recognition elsewhere in our community, so I’ll give them the opportunity to brag a bit.
Today, on July 22, 2011, the President, Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs took the next step, certifying that the military is ready to end the ban on open service. It is a proud day to be an American, and a proud day to be a Log Cabin Republican.
Log Cabin Republicans fought this archaic policy on many fronts, from working with the Pentagon’s Comprehensive Working Group which showed servicemembers were unopposed to the change, to securing the needed Republican votes in Congress for repeal, to bringing the federal lawsuit Log Cabin Republicans v. United States which declared ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ unconstitutional. It has been a long campaign, and the fight is not yet over, but victory is in sight at last.
Thanks guys. Considering the vote count and the pressure that the lawsuit applied, I honestly don’t think we could have accomplished this at this time without you.
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David Lyon
July 22nd, 2011
How on earth can a Republican organization claim credit AT ALL for the repeal of DADT ???
Edwin
July 22nd, 2011
After 28 years of hate to the Americam Service men and women it is about time. This is Great. Thanks to the Log Cabin Republicians for keeping up the fight.
Matt
July 22nd, 2011
Great post title, and great post. Nice thing to read on a Friday afternoon. Thanks.
PLAINTOM
July 22nd, 2011
I applaud everyone who killed this terrible law.
Ben M
July 22nd, 2011
David – The Log Cabin Republicans have been putting a lot of pressure on both Congress and the President with there very successful court challenge of DADT, indeed it was the likelihood of their success in the Courts that caused several GOP Senators to vote in favor of the repeal.
TampaZeke
July 22nd, 2011
Log Cabin Republicans are well known for taking credit for things they had little to nothing to do with but I’ll give them credit on this one. They were right up there in the front lines of battle on this one.
Richard Rush
July 22nd, 2011
This event illustrates why it was necessary for some gay Republicans to create
GOProudGOPure: Log Cabin was becoming too much like a GOPro-gay for the purity-seekers who would then go on to invite Ann Coulter to a venue so she could stomp on them again and again with her fabulous shoes.Timothy Kincaid
July 22nd, 2011
Richard,
GOProud is the best thing that ever happened to Log Cabin.
Now they get to be “that other Republican gay group that isn’t made up of completely insane self-loathing assholes.” Being compared to GOProud would improve anyone’s image.
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