In early June, Jason Bellini released a much-discussed report at The Daily Beast alleging that gay groups had made a deal with Congress to delay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in favor of other LGBT legislation.
According to Bellini, gay leaders in Washington made a deal with
leaders in the House to not push for DADT until sometime next year.
"Congressional sources" told Bellini that HRC wants to focus on a
federal hate crimes bill and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA) first.
The Human Rights Campaign released a statement adamantly denying the claims. Said HRC: "This story is not only an outright lie, it is recklessly
irresponsible. HRC never made such a deal and continues to work with
congress and the administration on a full range of equality issues
including a swift end to the military's shameful ban on gay
servicemembers."
Michelangelo Signorile interviewed Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center the same day HRC released its statement, and Belkin backed up Bellini's claims. Said Belkin: "We've heard from so
many offices that not only are they not doing anything but they're
pro-actively lobbying against consideration of the issue. I feel very
confident in saying that."
Yesterday, the Stars and Stripes, an independent news source which operates from within the U.S. Defense Dept., said this in an article regarding the status of DADT:
to repealing 'don’t ask' but has agreed with civil rights groups to put new hate
crime legislation and a workplace nondiscrimination bill on the legislative
calendar before taking up the military issue."
Yesterday, 76 House Democrats signed a letter to Obama urging him to halt discharges of gay military personnel.
So, I guess a few questions remain: Is there a deal? Was HRC lying? And was the letter sent to Obama yesterday simply "lip service" intended to make it look like some action is being taken given the fury that has erupted between LGBT folks and the DNC over the last week?
