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Articles tagged with: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT)

Young is getting old for Alaska!

Thursday, 20 January 2011 – 10:53 AM | 2 Comments
Young is getting old for Alaska!

– by Caleb Pritt

Don Young is a good person to meet and to visit with. I would love the opportunity to go fishing with him sometime if he ever offered, though I doubt he would. But Young is getting Old for Alaska.

Now before you think this is an attempt by a young man to use Don Young’s thirty-eight years in Congress against him, it’s not. It’s the fact that his votes are so out of line with Alaska and Alaska’s best interest, something he likes to say he represents. Don Young has reverted more and more to voting the Republican Party line, rather than voting for Alaska’s line, for the future.

Today, Don Young joined a band of reactionary Republicans in voting to repeal the Healthcare Reform that ALREADY passed the House before. This was a moment where a senior “indpendent-minded” Republican could have said, “We need to focus on the issues before us, not what is behind us.” Instead, Don Young chose the party politics of Washington, D.C. over Alaska’s best interest. He says the bill was unconstitutional, yet why didn’t he do anything when it was decided the first time? Theres plenty of parlimentary tricks he could have employed. Even at that, he could have split the provisions of the bill and voted against the Individual Mandates and yet still voted for providing health care to those with preexisting conditions. He could have added a rider to provide more funding for rural and for native health care efforts. Instead, Don Young disappointed Alaska and turned his back on Alaska by playing the Washington, D.C. game.

Awhile back, there was a move to alleviate the American taxpayer of the tax-dollar draining provision known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a provision that has wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Don Young claims he’s a friend and advocate for taxpayers but rather than using that as justification to remove DADT, he voted against repeal. In fact, Lisa Murkowski could look past her partisan label and partisan leanings to do the right thing, but Don Young who talks Alaska when running for re-election every two years, par for the course votes Washington, D.C. politics once safely back in office.

Don Young has built up a mystique of invincibility to some of the political prognisticators and the press. But my question as a constitutent of the Congressman is who do you represent: Alaska or the Republican Party? This past November, a plurality of Alaska voters said no to partisan politics and yes to those who place Alaska first in the U.S. Senate. In fact, 2/3rd’s did this if you combine Murkowski & McAdam’s votes over the very partisan Miller. So the question must be asked, is Alaska not getting too old to deal with Young?

Congressman, you can’t go forward by going back. Alaska has always moved forward. I suggest it’s time to start doing that again or come home and let another Alaskan go forward with Alaska, not back with party politics!

Sara’s News Roundup 1/9/11

Sunday, 9 January 2011 – 5:42 PM | Comments Off on Sara’s News Roundup 1/9/11
Sara’s News Roundup 1/9/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
Berkeley, Calif., Associated Press, January 4, 2011
New York, Reuters, January 6, 2011
eHow
Los Angeles Times, January 3, 2011
Sacramento, Calif., Advocate, January 3, 2011
U.S.A., Huffington Post, January 4, 2011
Chicago, Breaking Business, January 4, 2011
Kampala, Uganda, Associated Press, January 4, 2011
Oakland County, Calif., Tribune, December 29, 2010
Advocate, January 5, 2011
Huffington Post, January 9, 2011
Albuquerque, New Mexico, KOAT7-Albuquerque, January 5, 2011
Washington, Advocate.com, January 6, 2011
Rhode Island, Advocate, January 5, 2011
Huffington Post, December 28, 2010
Texas, Advocate, January 7, 2011
Arlington, Virginia, Stars and Stripes, January 6, 2011

Sara’s News Roundup 12/26/10

Sunday, 26 December 2010 – 2:49 PM | Comments Off on Sara’s News Roundup 12/26/10
Sara’s News Roundup 12/26/10
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
United Nations, Fox News, December 21, 2010
Pam’s House Blend, December 12, 2010
Washington, Advocate, December 22, 2010
Utah, Salt Lake Tribune, December 22, 2010
California, Contra Costa Times, December 11, 2010
Seattle Times, December 9, 2010
New York City, Advocate, December 24, 2010
CBS, December 20, 2010
The Hague, Netherlands, Fox News, November 30, 2010
U.K. BBC News, December 19, 2010
New York, New York Magazine, November 24, 2010
U.K., Telegraph, December 25, 2010
Jewish Journal, December 22, 2010
San Francisco, Advocate, December 23, 2010
Washington, Advocate, December 22, 2010

Video: President Obama signs DADT Repeal Act of 2010

Wednesday, 22 December 2010 – 10:57 PM | Comments Off on Video: President Obama signs DADT Repeal Act of 2010
Video: President Obama signs DADT Repeal Act of 2010

“This is a good day,” President Obama said on Wednesday to a grateful audience of approximately 500 people, including administration officials, congressmembers, former servicemembers and repeal advocates who worked 17 years to end the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

This is a very good day!

Watch the President’s speech and the bill signing ceremony:

A full transcript with the speeches of both the President and Vice President is posted on the White House website, and an article with photos is posted on the White House Blog.

In an interview with The Advocate, Obama said, “My strong sense is [implementation] is a matter of months… Absolutely not years.”

Goodbye DADT, and good riddance!

Sara’s News Roundup 12/22/10

Wednesday, 22 December 2010 – 4:49 PM | Comments Off on Sara’s News Roundup 12/22/10
Sara’s News Roundup 12/22/10
Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska is back from vacation with another roundup of recent LGBT news.
U.S.A., Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 20, 2010
New York, SAGE, October 12, 2010
New York, Advocate, December 7, 2010
Britain, Daily Mail, November 15, 2010
Bloomberg, December 5, 2010
Southern poverty Law Center, November 29, 2010
Canada, Just Out, December 10, 2010
Time, December 6, 2010
Devon, Penn., Philadelphia Inquirer, December 9, 2010
Brasilia, Brazil, Bloomberg Business Week, December 10, 2010
Advocate, December 15, 2010
Ireland, Advocate, December 15, 2010
TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press, December 15, 2010
365Gay.com, December 16, 2010
Illinois, Chicago Tribune, December 3, 2010
France, New York Times, December 16, 2010
MedicineNet.com, December 2, 2010
San Francisco, Associated Press, December 17, 2010
Sara also sent four articles on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
Whidbey Island, Wash., KING 5 News, December 18, 2010
Yahoo News, December 19, 2010
Washington Post Foreign Service, December 18, 2010
Huffington Post, December 18, 2010

Alaskans Together on DADT repeal

Sunday, 19 December 2010 – 12:28 AM | Comments Off on Alaskans Together on DADT repeal
Alaskans Together on DADT repeal

Alaskans Together for Equality sent a message to their members and supporters following the senate’s historic vote to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy on Saturday. Alaskans Together is the statewide LGBT advocacy group for Alaska.

Just over an hour ago the Senate by a vote of 65 to 31 repealed the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Today’s vote allows lesbian, gay and bisexual people the ability to serve openly and honestly in our military. It’s a wonderful step forward in our fight for full civil equality. We are extremely pleased to report that both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich voted in favor of the repeal!

Your efforts made a big difference! This repeal couldn’t have happened without you and your calls and emails.

Please take a moment in the next few days to call and email both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich and thank them for their vote to repeal DADT. It is great to have two Senators that believe in fairness and equality in our military.

Senator Murkowski

Email or Phone: 202.224.6665

Senator Begich

Email or Phone: 202.224.3004

Please thank Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich for representing all Alaskans with their vote to repeal DADT today. Our military has become even stronger with today’s vote.

Also, be aware there is still work to be done for the implementation of a full repeal of DADT. There is a 60-day waiting period, during which soldiers can still be discharged under the policy. We will post on our blog in the coming days when we have more details.

With all of our continuing efforts we are confident that we will have more victories to celebrate in 2011 on our road to achieving full civil equality in Alaska.

Let’s enjoy today’s victory.

Also, three Anchorage-based gay service members were interviewed by KTVA about the effects of the DADT policy and why repeal is necessary. The local troops are members of OutServe, a national network of gay and lesbian active-duty service members. (The clip was posted earlier this week, before Congress passed the stand-alone DADT repeal measure.)

Congress REPEALS Don’t Ask Don’t Tell!

Saturday, 18 December 2010 – 11:28 AM | One Comment
Congress REPEALS Don’t Ask Don’t Tell!

We did it!

The Senate voted today to repeal the military ban on openly gay and lesbian troops, following the House vote in favor of the repeal earlier this week. Both Senators Begich and Murkowski voted for repeal. Rep. Young voted against it.

Saturday morning (very early for those in Alaska watching the live broadcast), the Senate voted for cloture on the DADT repeal, voting 63-33 where they needed at least 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. The cloture vote was the main hurdle, since repeal itself needed only a simple majority to pass. After a few more hours of debate, they passed the repeal 65-31. Now it goes to the President to be signed and certified.

Please thank both Senators Begich and Murkowski for supporting all of our troops and voting to repeal this discriminatory law.

However, it is not safe for gay and lesbian troops to come out yet, as the policy will not be fully implemented for at least several months. Even after the President signs the bill, service members will remain at risk for investigation and discharge. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will still be the law until 60 days after the Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that repeal can happen.

President Obama on the Senate’s DADT vote:

Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

The Senate also voted for cloture on the Dream Act this morning, but the motion failed to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. Both senators from Alaska voted in favor.

Sen. Murkowski will vote for DADT repeal

Friday, 17 December 2010 – 3:39 AM | Comments Off on Sen. Murkowski will vote for DADT repeal
Sen. Murkowski will vote for DADT repeal
The stand-alone Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal measure is set for a cloture vote in the senate on Saturday, with a final vote possible on Monday, and both of Alaska’s senators have agreed to vote for it!
Senator Murkowski’s spokesman Michael Brumas verified on the phone on Thursday:

“Senator Murkowski will vote in favor of DADT cloture on Saturday morning. She will also vote to repeal DADT when it comes to a vote on Monday.”

The comment was made to clarify an earlier statement. A blog post titled Snowe and Murkowski Vow To Vote For DADT Repeal quoted Brumas as saying:

“Sen. Murkowski will support a stand-alone repeal of the DADT law. With the tax package out of the way, and legislation to fund the government on a glide path to passage, Sen. Murkowski will vote to move to DADT when it is brought to the floor.”

That did not sound like a ‘vow to vote for’ this repeal measure, and a Facebook friend of Bent Alaska asked her office for an explanation. Murkowski recently expressed support for repealing DADT, but voted against cloture on the repeal last week when it was attached to the defense budget. Repeal supporters were disappointed by her no vote and want to be sure we understand her position on the current measure.
Senator Murkowski is still being pressured by opponents to vote against this repeal measure.

Please call Sen. Murkowski today, thank her for supporting all of our troops and remind her to vote for S 4023, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, this session: 202-224-6665 (DC office) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).

The stand-alone DADT repeal passed the House by a wide margin on Wednesday, although Rep. Young voted against it.
A few hours after the House vote, several news sites said that Sen. Murkowski “announced” support for the stand-alone DADT measure, but they didn’t quote or link the announcement.
Senator Begich continues to support the repeal of DADT and voted for cloture last week.
On Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unexpectedly filed cloture on the stand-alone DADT repeal passed by the House and on the DREAM Act, and announced that he will hold the cloture vote on both measures on Saturday.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who introduced the stand-alone DADT repeal, said “We can get it done by Monday, maybe Tuesday at the latest, and then go back to the START treaty.”
They expect to get the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster by Sen. McCain. Here’s the breakdown, according to the Advocate: of the 58 Democratic senators, 56 are likely to vote for passage (excluding Sen. Joe Manchin, who joined the last GOP filibuster of the defense authorization bill, and Sen. Ron Wyden, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing surgery Monday); but the support of GOP senators Susan Collins, Scott Brown, and Lisa Murkowski brings the count to 59, and most believe Sen. Olympia Snowe will also come along since she stated support for repeal though not specifically for the stand-alone bill. A few other GOP senators, such as Richard Lugar and George Voinovich, are also potential votes.
It’s going to be close!

House passes DADT repeal, Rep. Young votes no

Wednesday, 15 December 2010 – 7:53 PM | Comments Off on House passes DADT repeal, Rep. Young votes no
House passes DADT repeal, Rep. Young votes no

The House today passed a stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” by a vote of 250-175, with 15 Republicans joining 235 Democrats to end the discriminatory policy. Rep. Young voted against repeal. Now the measure goes to the Senate, where advocates will try to bring it up for a vote by the end of next week.

Sen. Begich supports repeal, although he isn’t listed as a co-sponsor. News reports mention Sen. Murkowski as one of 4 senate Republicans who support repeal – but will she actually vote for repeal this time?

Call Senator Murkowski and ask her to vote for the DADT repeal: 202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).

After the House vote, Senator Snowe (R-Maine) said that she now supports the repeal of DADT. If she will vote for the stand-alone measure, that puts repeal within one or two votes of passing.

Sen. McCain and others opposed to gay and lesbian troops are trying to run the clock down on the session to avoid a vote, but allies are determined to see this pass before the new, more conservative Congress begins work in January.

Ask AK senators to co-sponsor S. 4023, the stand-alone DADT repeal

Monday, 13 December 2010 – 5:30 PM | Comments Off on Ask AK senators to co-sponsor S. 4023, the stand-alone DADT repeal
Ask AK senators to co-sponsor S. 4023, the stand-alone DADT repeal
On Friday, Senators Lieberman and Collins introduced a stand-alone bill to repeal DADT, named S 4023. As of Monday morning, there are 27 co-sponsors of the bill. Neither of Alaska’s Senators are co-sponsors, even though both are on record as supporting repeal.
Please contact both Sens. Begich and Murkowski and urge them to co-sponsor S 4023, the stand-alone legislation to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski
202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (toll free)

Sen. Mark Begich
202-224-3004 (DC) or 877-501-6275 (toll free)

The full name of the bill is “S. 4023: A bill to provide for the repeal of the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It was read into the calendar today, but will only be brought up for a vote if they have the 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.
We need Sen. Murkowski to tell Lieberman and Collins that she will vote for this!

Should all go well, we will be able to provide a nice holiday gift to the estimated 66,000 LGBT servicemembers currently serving our country.