Sunday, November 15, 2009

HRC and SLDN

UPDATE: The demise of the WashBlade today (Monday, Nov. 16) means the Blade link doesn't work.

Good news -- Barney Frank says DADT may be repealed in 2010, according to an article in the Washington Blade.

But if you wonder why much of our agenda has languished in Congress over the past decade, two quotes shed light on our time spent wondering in the wilderness.

On the question of the timing of DADT repeal, first we have HRC:

"Asked about Frank’s prediction for the repeal strategy, Allison Herwitt, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, said her organization 'always takes its cues from its congressional allies.'"

Check. We wait for "cues" from the folks who are supposed to represent us about when they will act to end injustice against us. Got it.

Now, let's throw it over to Kevin Nix, spokesperson for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:

"Nix also said SLDN is urging President Obama to include repeal as part of his defense budget request, which is expected to be delivered to Congress early next year."

Wait. What? SLDN is "urging" action by the government on our behalf? Actually "urging?" Not waiting for "cues" before asking on bended knee to stop injustice against us? You mean they're not letting others tell us "When we say so, and not before that?"

How impatient of them! Hopefully, someday they will cease being political novices and fall in line with the establishment. Then they will stop rocking the boat and making our "Congressional allies" queasy from having to actually follow through on the promises they made to us when they took our money and our votes.

Meanwhile, let's sit here on our hands and hope the "cues" will come soon.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Scott,

While a repeal of DADT is morally the right thing to do I have never understood why gays feel it's so important to join the service, a place populated almost exclusively with macho lower-class kids who could find nothing better to do with their lives at age 18. Of all groups, could we really expect acceptance from the likes of these people even if they were forced to allow us among them? They will be the last segment of society to accept gays . I have always taken solace in this one aspect of being gay: I can never be drafted. I want these drones out fighting my battles for me not hiding their dicks from me in the shower. Going after DADT is barking up the wrong tree.

Scott said...

It is a priority because it is an injustice, it is one of two instances where our government actively discriminates against us. Whether or not you chose to serve is irrelevant. Further, the active discharge of gay service people is hurting our security and costing taxpayers millions. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the case of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach. There are many others like him

Finally, there has been no draft since 1973 and your fears are unfounded. So you can live a peaceful, civilian life while those you call "drones" go out and protect it.