Don't Ask, Don't Tell

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Gay Veterans: Upgrade Our Discharges to 'Honorable'

After being kicked out of military, gay veterans fight for recognition

(Newser) - Kicked out of their units, rejected by their churches, denied veterans' benefits and job opportunities after being interrogated about the most personal details of their lives. This was the plight of many of the estimated 100,000 gay US service members discharged between World War II and 2011, when the...

6 States Defy Pentagon on Gay Military Benefits

Couples being forced to travel to federal bases to get ID card needed for benefits

(Newser) - In 44 states, the gay spouse of an active-duty National Guard member can register for a military spouse ID card at his or her partner's base and begin getting federal marriage benefits. But in six states, it's not so easy. As the New York Times explains, bases in...

Marine Proposes to Partner at White House

Photos an Internet hit

(Newser) - The White House has played host to its first same-sex marriage proposal: Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Phelps asked partner Ben Schock for his hand. Photos of the moment have been making waves across the Internet, thanks to a posting at the American Military Partner Association, Gawker reports. "Thanks for...

Ginsburg: Supreme Court Will Likely Tackle Gay Marriage

Meanwhile, happy first anniversary of Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal

(Newser) - The Supreme Court is likely to weigh in on the constitutionality of gay marriage bans sooner rather than later, Ruth Bader Ginsburg told students at the University of Colorado yesterday. When asked if the court might legalize gay marriage under the equal-protection clause, Ginsburg smiled and demurred, saying she couldn'...

Army Promotes 1st Openly Gay General

27-year veteran Tammy Smith served in Afghanistan, Costa Rica

(Newser) - Less than a year after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Army has promoted Tammy Smith to the rank of brigadier general, making her the first openly gay general in the US military, reports the Los Angeles Times . Smith stood with her commanding officer...

Pentagon Saluting Gay Pride Month

Military planning event to honor gay service members

(Newser) - Don't Ask, Don't Tell must be spinning in its grave: This is gay pride month at the Pentagon. With gays and lesbians now allowed to serve openly, the military has decided to mark the month just as it marks celebrations honoring other groups, reports AP . Defense Department officials...

Military Schools See 1st Openly Gay Graduates

Students bring same-sex partners to major events

(Newser) - It's graduation time at America's military academies, and for the first time, gay students are celebrating without having to keep their sexual orientations a secret. For many, that means bringing same-sex dates to end-of-year events. In the past, notes a West Point cadet, "I had to do...

San Francisco Official Turns to Ouija Board Before Vote

... and says the spirit of Harvey Milk responded

(Newser) - This probably falls under the only-in-San-Francisco department: A city supervisor says he consulted a Ouija board before voting on a measure to honor slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk , reports the San Francisco Chronicle . What's more, John Avalos swears Milk responded and guided him through the message, "Good...

Obama Blamed Fox News for Political Woes

David Corn's 'Showdown' also reveals Obama's 'secret strategy' with GOP

(Newser) - President Obama accused Fox News of hobbling his political success by repeatedly saying he's a Muslim, according to a new book on his administration. During a closed-door meeting with labor leaders in 2010, Obama said he was "losing white males" who watch Fox News and "hear Obama...

Gay Kiss Is Milestone, but Military Must Do More
Gay Kiss Is Milestone,
but Military Must Do More
OPINION
Dec 23, 2011 12:37 PM CST

Gay Kiss Is Milestone, but Military Must Do More

Racism, sexism, homophobia still exist: LA Times

(Newser) - When Marissa Gaeta stepped off the USS Oak Hill after a three-month deployment and gave her girlfriend the "first kiss" , it was just one example of the "exemplary progress" the US military has made in "modernizing its culture," declares the Los Angeles Times in an editorial....

Milestone: 2 Women Share 'First Kiss' in Navy Tradition

Same-sex partners smooch after ship's return from sea

(Newser) - Those who still pine for don't ask, don't tell better not look, either: Two female sailors shared a traditional "first kiss" today after a Navy ship returned from sea, reports AP . Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kissed her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, after...

Gay Troops Sue Over DOMA
 Gay Troops Sue Over DOMA 
Oct 27, 2011 7:26 AM CDT

Gay Troops Sue Over DOMA

Lawsuit to be filed today

(Newser) - Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may be gone, but married gay and lesbian service members aren’t done fighting for equal rights: Six active troops and two veterans are filing suit today to challenge the Defense of Marriage Act. Lead plaintiffs Shannon McLaughlin, a Massachusetts Army National Guard...

Obama: Don't Just Sit There When People Boo a Soldier

President fires away at GOP contenters at gay rights fundraiser

(Newser) - Ah, election season—when politicians remember that they once had guts. President Obama swung hard at GOP presidential hopefuls last night, blasting them for not condemning the crowd that booed a gay soldier at a Republican debate on Sept. 22, reports the Hill . "We don’t believe in the...

Santorum: 'I Condemn' Boos of Gay Soldier

Says he didn't hear them at the time

(Newser) - Rick Santorum looked to bring boo-gate to a halt on Fox News yesterday: "I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier," he said, referring to the handful of jeers during a question at the GOP debate about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The candidate says he...

Discharged Gay Soldiers Suing for Full Severance

Fight over half-pay has outlived Don't Ask, Don't Tell

(Newser) - "Don't Ask Don't Tell" wasn't cold in its grave before Obama administration lawyers were in court opposing giving full severance pay to service members honorably discharged under the policy. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case on behalf of 142 people discharged under the policy...

Daily Show Applauds Our New Gay Army

Jason Jones reports... in short-shorts

(Newser) - The Daily Show reported on the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last night with its customary level of sobriety and dignity. Which is to say, Jason Jones was wearing short-shorts and rubbing his belly under a too-small camouflage T-shirt. “The nightmare is real!” Jones declared,...

Navy Officer, Partner Wed as 'Don't Ask' Ends

Pair marry in Vermont the minute policy becomes history

(Newser) - Navy Lt. Gary Ross, like every other gay and lesbian service member, was free to disclose his sexuality as of midnight—and he did it in style. The 33-year-old lieutenant and his partner of 11 years traveled from their home in Arizona to Vermont so they could marry as the...

Pentagon OKs Gay Military Magazine at Bases

OutServe will show up day DADT is repealed

(Newser) - The Pentagon will formally repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell on Sept. 20, and gay service members will be able to quickly read all about it. Defense officials have agreed to allow OutServe magazine, a new publication whose target audience is gay members of the military, to go on...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Ends Sept. 20

President and Pentagon certify repeal

(Newser) - Supporters and opponents of Don't Ask, Don't Tell won't have to pay attention to the dizzying back-and-forth court developments anymore: The ban on gays in the military will end on Sept. 20, reports Politico . President Obama certified the repeal today after the Pentagon brass—including new defense...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal to Be Certified by Leon Panetta
 Panetta to Certify DADT Repeal 
Jul 22, 2011 7:50 AM CDT

Panetta to Certify DADT Repeal

New defense chief to start 60-day repeal countdown

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will sign the death warrant for "Don't Ask Don't Tell" soon after he is officially sworn in today, according to Pentagon sources. Panetta and other defense chiefs will certify that the military is ready to ax the policy barring gays from serving openly,...

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