Army Sec. McHugh clarifies: "No, seriously. Don't tell." Speak up for those who can't!

Secretary of the Army John McHugh says he misspoke earlier this week when he said that gay and lesbian soldiers would not be kicked out during the year-long study on the effects of Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal. Despite wanting to talk to queer service members during the course of the study, McHugh says he didn't mean to infer that a stop-loss would be in place. So that whole "feel free to ask and tell" thing isn't part of the deal.

Advocate.com reports that McHugh released a statement on Thursday saying, "Until Congress repeals 'don't ask, don't tell,' it remains the law of the land and the Department of the Army and I will fulfill our obligation to uphold it," McHugh said in a statement Thursday. "There is no moratorium of the law and neither (Gates) nor I would support one."

So the year-long study will not include any input from the people most affected by DADT and its repeal, if it ever happens. Is it just me, or does anyone else see this as a major slap in the face? Its just one more way the administration says to the LGBT community, "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Now shut up and sit down."

We will not shut up and sit down. We will not allow our voices to go unheard as this year-long stalling tactic takes place. We will not only ask, we will demand that our leaders stand up for our rights. We will tell our stories as clearly and loudly and as often as it takes until our rights are fully protected under the law.

I am putting out the call to all gay and lesbian military veterans in the Roanoke area to join me tomorrow, Saturday, April 3rd at 3pm at Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, 112 Campbell Ave. (on the City Market) as we meet with Terry McGuire from the Human Rights Campaign to plan a lobbying session at the Roanoke office of Sen. Jim Webb, asking for support in the effort to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Terry has been organizing these lobbying efforts throughout the commonwealth over the last several weeks. Webb's office has not yet responded to Terry's numerous attempts to make an appointment. He will be in the Roanoke area over the next few days to get the details nailed down.

Like a lot of bloggers, I've been critical of some of the statements coming from HRC president Joe Solmonese, but I also believe in giving credit where credit is due. This is a truly worthwhile effort. This is our chance to prove that Southwestern Virginia's LGBT community can and will stand up for our rights.

Speak out for those who can't without losing their jobs. Join us tomorrow to find out what you can do to change this unjust law that not only discriminates against our community, but seriously impairs our nation's ability to defend itself.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Army: Gays will be discharged if they speak up (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• U.S. army warns gay troops they still can be discharged (ctv.ca)
• U.S. ban on gays in military still in effect (cbc.ca)
• Army: Gays will be discharged if they speak up (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Pentagon faces hurdles in 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' study (cnn.com)
• Army Backtracks On Relaxed 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Enforcement (huffingtonpost.com)