About “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: Directives, Memos, Etc.
SLDN Warning to Service Members: DADT Still in Effect Until September 20, 2011
The bottom line is DADT is still in effect and it is NOT safe to come out.
Rapidly changing events regarding the legal status of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) may be confusing for service members and recruits.
Click here to contact SLDN's legal hotline and set up a free, confidential call with an attorney to discuss your options.
Click here to contact our legal team about seeking an upgrade to your discharge characterization.
DADT Repeal:
On July 22, 2011, President Obama, Defense Secretary Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen certified that the U.S. military is ready for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal, which will go into effect on September 20, 2011.
On July 14, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the Ninth Circuit to reconsider its decision to lift the stay and asked that a short-term emergency stay be imposed while the Court did so.
On July 11, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals released an order instructing the Department of Justice and Department of Defense to declare within ten days whether or not it will defend the constitutionality of DADT and asked the parties whether they thought the Repeal Act made the case moot.
On July 6, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision that put back into effect a lower court order barring the enforcement of DADT.
What’s next?
DADT will still be the law until September 20, 2011.
Continue to visit www.sldn.org/stillatrisk for the latest updates on the status of the law.
SLDN’S LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO HELP YOU
- SLDN provides free legal counseling to service members with legal issues stemming from or relating to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning military service by lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons, the regulations governing military service by HIV+ people, and the regulations addressing military service by transgender persons.
FREE LEGAL HOTLINE
- Contact our legal hotline (202-328-3244 x 100 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
- Given the latest "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) legal and political developments, SLDN has been hearing from many lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members who have questions about the status of the law as well as from veterans and others who wish to serve.
- If you're still serving, and you have any questions about the status of DADT or anything else related to DADT, HIV status, or transgender issues, we want you to know you can contact our legal hotline at any time for free, confidential legal advice.
- If you are interested in going back into the military or joining for the first time, we strongly encourage you to contact SLDN's legal hotline to set up a free, confidential call with an attorney to discuss your options.
