Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

On the Road to Repeal in 2010

More progress in the fight for repeal has been made this year than during any other time since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” became law in 1993. The past 12 months have been a period of unprecedented foundation building, and 2010 should be the year we finally end DADT, provided we see more leadership and engagement from the White House and Senate.

Before this year comes to a close tonight I want to thank everyone who has been in this good and tough fight for so very long. Your sustained commitment, hard work, and generous financial support have made it possible for SLDN to provide the needed legal services every day and to wage this fight with our allies on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and at the Pentagon. I salute each and every one of you, including our tenacious SLDN co-founders Michelle Benecke and Dixon Osburn, the hundreds of individuals who have served on the SLDN Board and Military Advisory Council over these past 16 years, and I salute our clients, former clients, and all service members who have served under this law and who continue to serve under DADT.

As we look ahead to our year of opportunity, for the first time, we have 186 co-sponsors for HR 1283 – the Military Readiness Enhancement Act — which would repeal DADT. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), who became our lead in July, is an energetic champion of repeal and a fierce leader. Repeal is Patrick’s top legislative priority in this Congress, and no one is working harder than Patrick. He brings invaluable military credentials, credibility, and courage to this national debate, and we are blessed that he is our leader.

We need and are expecting breakthroughs in the Senate in 2010, but what the President does or does not do with respect to including repeal language (HR 1283) in his DOD ’11 budget bill, will largely influence and determine our Senate strategy and timing, as it will influence the schedule and hearings of SASC Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

President Obama said the right words last year on the campaign trail. With passion and conviction the President said the right words this past October at the HRC dinner when he declared, “I will end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” Now, we urge President Obama to make good on his genuine commitment to open military service. He will have his opportunity in a few weeks when he submits his defense department budget to Congress. Indeed, we are counting on the President to match his past words on open service with his upcoming actions. And let me be perfectly candid here. If the President does not submit a legislative repeal proposal in his DOD package and does not ask Congress to partner with him in doing this in 2010, it is going to be very tough for us to win without his leadership and active involvement.

But the White House and the President cannot do it alone. This will require leadership from Congress, especially in the Senate, and from the Pentagon, and from us more hard work than ever. Although the prospects for getting rid of DADT are better than ever, the window of opportunity is upon us and it will close quickly. Together, we must seize this moment. Continue to contact your senators and House members, and the White House, continue to write those letters to the editor, and continue working with us on your op-eds. Keep your family and friends engaged in the fight. With your help we can finally give DADT the boot in 2010 and ensure equal treatment for all LGBT service members. Let’s turn up the heat and keep it turned up as long as necessary in 2010.

Happy New Year!

12-31-09 By Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director |