Via AmericaBlog, this post at Daily Kos on the real "changes" in implementation of DADT -- not much.
Yesterday news came out from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network(SLDN) that contrary to popularly reports, the ban on third party outings of LGB servicemembers was not entirely a thing of the past.
This is the latest in an oddly familiar pattern of big happy news announcements on DADT, followed by small—but critical—corrections. If you're not playing close attention, beyond the sweep of headlines, you've probably missed a lot. Some of us are paying close attention though, and there is an awful truth: repeal is far from the sure bet many people seem to think it is.
The pattern is: we stage a nice little dog and pony show to make a thrilling announcement about some gay issue or other, and then we don't do much. Joe Solmonese goes home happy and no one is asking the hard questions.
Take it tandem with this post from Queerty:
From the Pentagon saying it's going to poll the families of military personnel about their thoughts on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, to actually holding a forum to invite ostensibly soldiers' feedback on a repeal, the military is making clear its strategy on repealing the discriminatory policy: let's have everyone weigh in and see what they think and make this a democratic decision! The premise is certainly a bizarre one, since military leaders don't have much of a history asking what subordinates — or their husbands and wives — think about their policy making.
Read both these posts. They're scathing, and they should be. Also take a look at John Aravosis' comments on the "family friendly" approach -- for once, I don't think he's over the top -- this certainly deserves all the ridicule anyone cares to heap on it.
They're stalling, hoping they can kill it.
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