Officials plan first 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal briefing

News > Officials plan first 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal briefing

Officials plan first 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal briefing

Posted 1/26/2011

Email story Print story

by Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

1/26/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The first in a series of briefings to describe the Defense Department's progress in implementing repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law is coming soon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Jan. 26.

Clifford L. Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are slated to give the briefing Jan. 28, Mr. Morrell said.

Mr. Stanley is leading the effort for the Pentagon.

The House of Representatives passed legislation in May 2010 that called for the president, defense secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman to certify the implementation plan before the repeal takes effect.

On Nov. 30, 2010, Pentagon officials released the report of a working group that reviewed issues associated with a potential repeal. On Dec. 18, 2010, the Senate voted 65-31 for repeal, and President Barack Obama signed the bill into law Dec. 22.

On Jan. 7, at a Pentagon news conference with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates updated reporters on the department's plan for implementing repeal of the law, which has been in effect since 1993 and remains in effect until the process is complete.

Secretary Gates said the three-step process includes finalizing changes in regulations and policies and getting a clearer definition on benefits.

The second phase is to prepare training materials for use by personnel specialists, chaplains, commanders and other leaders and those who are in daily contact with service members, he said.

The third phase, the secretary explained, is the actual training for service members.

Comments

2/1/2011 9:46:21 PM ET
There shalt come a day when thou shalt sayeth to thy brother thou art my brother and it shall be so. On that day thou shalt be brethren.

Flubbaticus, One of 50 fine states

2/1/2011 12:36:38 PM ET
Wonder if the establishment will either campaign against homosexual conduct or stop trying to get members off tobacco. Just saying since active gay males have a statistically lower life expectancy than smokers.

J, SA TX

1/31/2011 6:54:52 PM ET
Article 125 of the UCMJ indeed.

Common Sense, Retiredville

1/31/2011 5:41:29 PM ET
I am glad that this policy is rescinded. Our gay and lesbian service members have been illegally marginalized for too long and now the injustice will stop. Our military members deserve the chance to work and thrive in an environment that is free from reprisals and the constant fear of being discharged. I wonder what will happen to the gay members who are currently undergoing the discharge processis this a case of the right hand doesnt know what the left hand is doing. The Federal Appeals court refused to hear the Federal Governments appeal so it appears that to discharge any service member from being gay is still illegal - at least as civilian law is concerned. This is a murky transitionI hope it happens quickly.

MSgt P, Travis AFB

1/29/2011 12:30:41 PM ET
3 months of training and we will be ready to accept the new way. Very smart people in charge.

Jay, Barksdale

1/28/2011 7:07:17 PM ET
Well when it comes to TACP...they sure can ask. Remember they repealed DADT so that means what...We can ask and tell about the homosexuals.Gays and Lesbians have to live in the same room with each other. I'm guessing they won't have a problem with that. To solve this all dorms are going to have to become Co-Ed as in males and female sharing the same rooms with each other. It'll be like real world Military style.

The silenced 80 percent, Alabama

1/28/2011 3:29:00 PM ET
senior airman Home of the Free-it has not been directed nor would it be sanctioned that homosexuals will get to live with their significant others while straight Airmen do not. Dormatories are typically 1 per room with a shared common area. Anyone who has ever lived in the dorms knows that any overt dating behavior-especially by a same sex couple would surely be met with disdain and possibly harrasment. The times are changing. No one forced you to join and no one is making you stay. if you don't like it you can always separate.

nco in fla, macdill afb fl

1/28/2011 2:44:44 PM ET
So not the point airman - who cares who's checking out whom I think people quite fairly want to know why homosexuals will get to live with their significant others while straight Airmen do not. This affects dormitories in the US overseas and on deployments.

senior airman, Home of the Free

1/28/2011 1:32:00 PM ET
To alvin and all the other homophobes out there, you are not that attractive. Get over yourself. If you don't see women always checking you out there is a good chance that gay men will not be interested either.

airman, airforce

1/28/2011 10:54:32 AM ET
Not gonna happen Alvin. Without even considering the massive costs, segragating people based on sexual orientation would both run against the upcoming policy change and be impossible to implement. Gays are not going to be required to identify themselves and the military is not going to be tracking people based on their orientation. Even if they were being tracked they could simply hide the fact just like they do before the repeal. It would be impossible to segragate them even if we wanted to.

Capt S, Missouri

1/28/2011 10:36:49 AM ET
ALVIN ZIEGELBAUER the DADT review team has already stated that there should be no separate housing for homosexuals. This was decided in part because they would be impossible to administer unless service members are required to disclose their sexual orientation - which the report did not recommend.

Analyst, Barksdale

1/27/2011 6:42:13 PM ET
I suggest that they all have their own barracks and facilities both male and female.

ALVIN ZIEGELBAUER, BEDFORD TEXAS

1/27/2011 10:16:56 AM ET
MSgt F V considering Lawrence v. Texas and the fact that heterosexual military members haven't been charged with sodomy for oral sex I do not anticipate this being an issue. The DoD report in the fall recommended amendment of Article 125 so eventually this may be completely a non-issue. Kurt the ban on homosexuals in the military comes from 10 U.S.C. 654 which will be repealed following certification from the President the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Analyst, Barksdale

1/27/2011 9:44:04 AM ET
When on AD I remember being told its not what the President say but actually the UCMJ which prohibited Gay members from staying in service.Did the new bill passed change the UCMJ or just the policy on how to deal with members identifiedKurt

Kurt K, Tinker AFB

1/27/2011 9:02:35 AM ET
Until Congress eliminates Article 125 from the UCMJ this is pointless.

MSgt F V, Ireland

1/26/2011 8:11:24 PM ET
This is going to be a sensitive process and transparency throughout can only help. I look forward to hearing more as things keep moving.

PB, US

Add a comment

Inside AF.mil

GeneralImagesVideo

View All RSS

Subscribe AF.MIL

More Headlines

Airmen rally to help save lives

Lost Johnny Carson film found at March

Brig. Gen. Witham nominated as ANG deputy director

AFPC Airman: Don't forget, they're not all home

Muncy Honored With Second Highest Private Citizen Award

AF nominates AFMC, AFSPC civilians for DOD award

Air Force medical treatment facilities not involved in multi-state meningitis outbreak

Hundreds on October supplemental promotion list

Construction of second runway continues at Osan, South Korea  |  VIDEO

Air Force Week in Photos

'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary  1

Tail swap enables Afghan mission support and humanitarian effort

Fort Smith ANG Airmen Head Home   |  VIDEO

1952 C-124 crash descendant finds closure in Alaska  1

Commentary

Standards? What standards? 3

First things first: Get your degrees in order 34