So: Tonite Barack Obama promised to do whatever is necesary to end DADT

[BruceChris]

And he also spoke out against DOMA, and in favor of ENDA, at the Human Rights Campaign dinner.

The Forum is All Yours, Bruce Chris

[Alecto]

Not to be that guy, but...we've heard all this before. ::snore:: till he actually DOES something.

[BishopIoan]

That's my thought too. Obama is really good at talking the talk; now let' ssee some action. We have been hearing the same thing out of the White House since January and sorry, Mr President, I am waiting to see you ACT on those promises. Pretty words won't get us our civil rights.

[tdogg]

I was watching a commentary show on MSNBC and it was stated that it is expected the hate crimes bill will be on Obama's desk to sign end of this week or next week. He has promised to sign it. If it doesn't happen by end of next week, it will be our jobs to harass Congress & Obama's people until it gets done.

I've also heard from different sources (heard/read) that an ENDA is currently moving through Congress although I'm not sure if it's in the Senate or House currently. Not sure what the time line is but Obama has 'promised' to sign it when it reaches his desk. It does not appear to have enough opposition to lose. It is also reported to be a full ENDA.

Hearings are being held on DADT and that one will take a while. I believe Obama has some power to at least temporarily cease the discharges; however, he has not elected to do so yet (if ever). I'm not sure what the consequences are, or if he is worried about the opposition to the bill written to put an end to DADT, but seems like he could at least halt the discharges for now until a bill gets moving through Congress on that one.

In regards to DOMA, I'm was a little surprised to hear him even talk about that in his speech Saturday nite. I thought for sure he would skip that topic. I believe a bill, or multiple bills, are being drafted for presenting at a Committee hearing to see if it would get through Congress. My sources have been HRC (probably not 100% reliable), MSNBC, CNN - on line and on various commentary shows.

I feel slightly more hopeful after his speech than before. It seems as though some things are moving, although slower than we had hoped, but possibly faster than politicos anticipated. I think we need a little more patience, but not silent patience. This is the time to call, write, email and basically pile it on our representatives, senators and Obama's staff. I think if we inundate our voices will be heard slightly more than if we wait around and complain.

[Tallit]

Well it hasn't happened yet.

[Amy Gower]

OK, I guess I am looking for a little insight into the Don't Ask, Don't Tell issue. And to be clear, since I'm not gay I realize that my viewpoint may be somewhat ignorant or uninformed.

When I hear about DADT, I think about it as kind of a protection, rather than a sort of ban on gays in the military. Like your sexual orientation is not part of your mission/directive/purpose in the military, it is personal and therefore not relevant in a military capacity. I do know as well, that heterosexual relationships are not always condoned either in certain circumstances, as my brother and now sister-in-law were serving together in Iraq and essentially had to keep their relationship a secret because it was considered a no-no for them to "fraternize" in that way (I think my brother outranked his wife at the time.)

I really am interested in others' viewpoints on this issue, especially since the military is really its own society with rules that do not apply to the population at large. Does ending DADT mean eradicating a discriminatory practice? Does it mean that gay soldiers may be MORE susceptible to discrimination because their orientation is then subject to scrutiny? Does DADT attempt to eliminate questions that are irrelevant when enemy combatants are shooting missiles overhead, or is it restricting personal rights?

[offog]

Pardon my ignorance, but what are ENDA and DOMA?

Also, I hope that Obama really does something about DADT this time. Late last night I was watching TV news coverage about a top military man (I forget who) facing the Senate and saying that he, personally, favored repealing DADT. He said that people who defend their country shouldn't have to lie about who they are.

One Republican Senator who is opposed to repealing DADT said something about not wanting to compromise "high standards". I'm seriously disturbed by the implication that GLBT people automatically make inferior soldiers.