Nice to know that the right-wing fringe at this debate in Orlando has so little respect for those serving in uniform. Makes you wonder how many of those booing Steven Hill have served their country. DADT is history, people, so get over it.   Here’s the segment via Think Progress: The curious thing is that [...]

It’s an open thread! Pleeeeease feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread… So, this is what my cartoon sockpuppet Bookworm Bob have been looking at since our last This & That post. • The Advocate‘s White House Backs Social Security Admin.’s Pro-Trans Policy: In a move to help stop workplace discrimination [...]

It’s not too late to catch this HBO documentary – it first aired at midnight when DADT expired. The historical look at the legacy of gays and lesbians in the military airs again tonight at 8PM. HBO web site on the documentary.

@whitehouse The White House As of 12:01 am, the repeal of the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ finally & formally takes effect. #DADT The Rev. Sarah Lammert, Director of Ministries and Faith Development, captured the meaning of today so perfectly with these words: Silence, chosen, deepens prayer, opens the window of the [...]

Tony Perkins must be hitting the sauce — or hoping that his donors are. Take a look at the latest fund raising email from his anti-gay hate group, Family Research Council. Here’s the zinger: We are also a powerful voice for our troops, their religious liberty, and your security regarding liberals’ pushing open homosexuality in [...]

It’s an open thread! Pleeeeease feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread… So, this is what my cartoon sockpuppet Bookworm Bob have been looking at since our last This & That post. • This is from a bit more than a week ago, but we post on it. From the Baltimore [...]

From National Public Radio‘s (NPR’s) Pentagon Will Certify An End To A Ban On Gays In Military: NPR’s Rachel Martin reports that tomorrow, the Pentagon will announce Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has signed a certification that states the military is ready to allow gay men and women to serve openly. President Obama will then be [...]

On July 6, the Ninth Circuit Federal court ordered the Department of Defense to stop enforcing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, as a result of the Log Cabin Republican’s successful challenge on the law’s Constitutionality. Shortly after, the Department of Justice filed a motion to reinstate it.

The Department of Justice was dealt a partial victory on Friday. The Ninth reinstated DADT partially and temporarily. The military could continue to enforce it in regards to new recruits, admissions to military academies, and ROTC program (which are ironically, returning to the campuses, even as they continue to enforce DADT, and trans recruits will continue to be denied). Their order did prohibit “investigating, penalizing, or discharging” servicemembers under DADT.

Today, the Department of Justice said “not good enough.” They filed another appeal for full reinstatement.

Photo by Rex Wockner.

From Karen Occamb at LGBT POV come this report from about 350 active duty servicemembers who joined a movement to appear in San Diego Pride's event held today. 

Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos helped fan the flames of unfounded fear prior to the December, 2010 repeal of the anti-gay military mandate known as “don’t ask, don’t tell”. “When your life hangs on a line, on the intuitive behavior of the young man… who sits to your right and your left, you don’t want [...]