ATLANTA—American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), the nation’s only all-volunteer LGBT Veterans Service Organization, applauds the passage of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. AVER acknowledges the courage, commitment, and determined leadership of President Barack H. Obama in fulfilling his promise to repeal the DADT law that harmed the United States military, endangered its mission, and jeopardized the lives of American service members by removing critical battlefield skills from the global war on terror.
Category Archives: Press Releases
DADT REPEALED!
The United States Senate this afternoon at 3 PM voted by a vote of 65 to 31 to end discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service members by repealing the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, setting up the end of the US military policy of discrimination against LGB American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Air Force and Coast Guard personnel. American Veterans for Equal Rights applauds President Barack Obama for his dedicated leadership and his principled stand against discrimination.
DADT Repeal in December 2010
American Veterans for Equal Rights joins other groups demanding an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in calling for Congress to stay in Washington until the law is repealed. We support any legislation that is put forth in good faith to accomplish the goal of repeal in 2010, and we are deeply grateful for members of Congress from both parties who are working very hard to accomplish repeal before the end of yet another year of this disgraceful and dishonorable law.
DADT Repeal Hearings – December 3
This morning members of the Joint Chiefs have been testifying before the Senate Armed Service Committee. They included Marine Commandant General James Amos, Army Chief of Staff General George Casey, Marine General James Cartwright, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz. The results of their testimony depends on who is doing the spinning. Generally (pun intended), it was assumed their statements would be negative. But here are some highlights:
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Hearings Begin
ADMIRAL MULLEN: “I would not recommend repeal of this law if I did not believe in my soul that it was the right thing to do for our military, for our nation and for our collective honor.”
Today the United States Senate Armed Services Committee is receiving testimony on the report of the Department of Defense Working Group that conducted a comprehensive review of the issues associated with a repeal of section 654 of title 10, United States Code, “Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces”, commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) has released its long awaited report which shows conclusively that the repeal of DADT will not harm the military.
AVER Encourages President Obama Not to Appeal Today’s Decision
No American soldier should ever die on the battlefield because the medic who could have saved his life was kicked out of the military for being gay. As an organization of veterans the members of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) support the United States military and all of the troops who serve in our armed forces.