In Case You Missed It (And You Probably Did)
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was declared 'repealed' for the fourth time yesterday, when the President, Defense Secretary Panetta, and Admiral Mullen signed the certification letter required by Congress to officially end DADT in 60 days.
The fourth time? Indeed.
The first was when, for a period of a week back in November 2010, DADT had been declared unconstitutional by Judge Virginia Phillips and who then issued a world-wide injunction against enforcing it. (Then a stay was issued by the Appellate Court)
The second was in December, 2010, when President Obama signed the law which would eventually repeal DADT.
The third was a few weeks ago, when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the stay it put into effect in November reversed. DADT was again unconstitutional for about a week until, upon appeal by the Department of Justice, the Ninth Circuit sort-of, kinda-of put the stay back into effect. (They forbade the DoJ from investigating or discharging anyone, but they allowed the military to refuse to enlist any openly LGB person).
And the fourth time was yesterday, as described above.
The fifth (and hopefully, final) time DADT will have been repealed will be on September 20th, 2011, when the repeal law passed by Congress and signed by the President back in December will actually take effect.
The fourth time? Indeed.
The first was when, for a period of a week back in November 2010, DADT had been declared unconstitutional by Judge Virginia Phillips and who then issued a world-wide injunction against enforcing it. (Then a stay was issued by the Appellate Court)
The second was in December, 2010, when President Obama signed the law which would eventually repeal DADT.
The third was a few weeks ago, when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the stay it put into effect in November reversed. DADT was again unconstitutional for about a week until, upon appeal by the Department of Justice, the Ninth Circuit sort-of, kinda-of put the stay back into effect. (They forbade the DoJ from investigating or discharging anyone, but they allowed the military to refuse to enlist any openly LGB person).
And the fourth time was yesterday, as described above.
The fifth (and hopefully, final) time DADT will have been repealed will be on September 20th, 2011, when the repeal law passed by Congress and signed by the President back in December will actually take effect.