The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is being debated on C-SPAN—you can watch live here—as part of a defense spending bill. A vote is expected soon.

UPDATE 4:10: Meanwhile, Towleroad reports that the Senate Armed Services Committee voted against DADT:

HRC: Moments ago we received word that the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to repeal the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. This historic action is the first time Congress has ever taken a vote to repeal the ban on openly lesbian and gay service members in its nearly 17 year history.

Voting no:

Jim Webb (Virginia)
John McCain (Arizona)
James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Roger F. Wicker (Mississippi)
George S. LeMieux (Florida)
Scott Brown (Massachusetts)
Richard Burr (North Carolina)
David Vitter (Louisiana)

UPDATE 4:15: The House debate continues—mostly about the overarching military spending—leading up to a full floor vote.

UPDATE: 4:45: Republican representatives keep coming back to the subject of DADT, even though it’s not the allotted time to debate the measure. At the top of their criticisms: Although the Murphy Amendment calls for a review by the Penatgon to be completed by December—and then actually repealing it when certain requirements are met—passing the measure means certain death to their treasured anti-gay discrimination.

rep_buck_mckeon.png

“The headline will say, ‘DADT repealed.'” says Rep Buck McKeon (R-CA). He notes, “The senate didn’t wait for us. The die is already cast if we pass this tonight.” The bigot adds, “Our responsibility is to look out for young men and women defending us.” Um, exactly?

UPDATE 5:20: McKeon won’t let up: “Those troops, they are going to see it’s repealed. It’s done. It’s a done deal.”

In other assholes, another Congressman (I missed which one) notes, “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. There are some trying to the make argument that tolerance requires a moral equivalency. It does not when it comes to homosexuality.”

UPDATE 5:50: DADT amendment passes by voice vote, but McKeon calls for recorded vote. Roll call on amendment from Jay Inslee (D-WA) is currently underway. Stay tuned.

UPDATE 6:55: House members are voting now on the Murphy amendment to repeal DADT.

15 replies on “House to Vote on Repealing DADT”

  2. 16 to 12 in favor from WaPo.

    In other news, FedEx has announced it will begin offering same-sex domestic partner health benefits to its 225,000+ employees as of 2012. Now if ExxonMobil and Wal-Mart could just get with the times. And, if Congress would get ENDA passed then my day would be made.

  3. You’ve been talking about this stuff for 22 years, while Canada has had gays serving openly in their Army for that long.

    The ones that were in Afghanistan when America went off-mission to Iraq.

    Yeah, gay soldiers.

    You thought they were effective then …

    I don’t hold out hope for you ending DADT. You talk a lot but you’re scared of your own shadows.

    (sneaks up behind closeted Republican) “Gay!”

    (closeted Republican reflexively votes No on Gays in military)

  8. Is it mean-spirited of me to want to kick all women and minorities out of the army, then institute a draft of all white straight males, and then send them all on a manned mission to do battle with the sun?

  9. It kinda makes me want to cry. The Israeli army – arguably the toughest, roughest, most efficient kick-ass army in the world, has allowed gays in their military since – well, forever. It’s 2010, and we’re still talking about this in the US? And I know some people are worried about how Jim Bob and Billy Ray are going to react to this, but as I’ve insisted before, when is anything worthwhile ever accomplished – P.T. Barnum notwithstanding – by appealing to the lowest common denominator?

  11. The Republican’ts seem determined to keep bigotry alive. It’s a sacred trust for them to push down people they disagree with whether it’s gays, blacks, hispanics, etc., etc. They have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the future. Goddamn knuckle dragging pricks!

  12. Ha-ha-ha-ha
    Diaper-Dave Vitter thinks its OK to get diapered by a prostitute, but objects to allowing gay soldiers to protect the country. Perhaps his small penis makes him feel insecure.
    http://wonkette.com/321135/prostitute-di…
    Or perhaps he feels teh gays are a threat to the sanctity of his marriage, even when they’re out there serving their country, meanwhile he’s being serviced by his hookers. I’m sure they are to blame for his prostitute habit – right?
    http://crooksandliars.com/2007/07/11/dc-…
    Oh, if only I could be as hypocritical as the GOP!

  13. @8: It’s a mite bit extreme and self-defeating, because a vacuum doesn’t like staying that way. Some other group would assume the position — probably white gay men.

    @3: Will in Senility, you sort of forgot how Canada still discriminates against men who have sex with men from donating blood. You sort of ignore Canada’s own history with the RCMP and homosexuals in a way that rivalled anything happening in the U.S. You didn’t mention how queer lit from the U.S. is still stopped at the border by Customs and kept from coming in because it’s all somehow pornographic.

    I could continue, but you’d probably forget.

    @9: You sort of forget how in Israel, like with a few other nation-states, military service is compulsory for everyone — women and men — for two years.

  14. Clarification on @9:

    in Israel, like with a few other nation-states, military service is compulsory for everyone — women and men — for two years

    I merged a qualifier. In a few other nation-states, military service for men is compulsory. Only in Israel are both women and men conscripted.

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