It's official: In 60 days, DADT to join Prohibition in Flawed Law Retirement Home

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07/22/2011

by Jeremy Hooper

On this, I defer to SLDN and Servicemembers United:

(Washington, D.C.) Service members today welcomed a key milestone in repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), as President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, formally issued their certification to the Armed Services committees of both houses of Congress, signifying that the military is ready for the transition. In 60 days, as prescribed in the law passed by Congress and signed by the President last December, repeal will be final.

“The final countdown to repeal begins today. Service members celebrate this historic announcement, and they are ready for this change. Our nation’s top military leaders have testified that commanders see no significant challenges ahead, and now the President, Secretary Panetta, and Chairman Mullen have certified to Congress that the armed forces are prepared for the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Army Veteran and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.
Finally, Certification Issued! [SLDN]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, hailed today's news that the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have all signed off on, or certified, the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

"Today, gay and lesbian service members can and will breath a huge sigh of relief. While we still must wait 60 days for this change to formally take effect and for the law to officially be off the books, this step is nothing short of historic," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This is the final nail in the coffin for the discriminatory, outdated, and harmful 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. All service members, the U.S. military, and the nation will be better off as a result of this long overdue change in policy."
Pentagon, President Certify Legislative Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" [SU]