For gay rights, is repeal of 'don't ask' military ban the end or the beginning?

[davidinalameda]

For the American gay rights movement, this is the big question that follows Saturday's landmark repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Is the Senate vote the successful end of one struggle or a turning point for many others?

Activists are hoping that the repeal - which will allow gays to serve openly in the U.S. military - gives them significant new leverage. For the first time they can argue that if the Army trusts gay men and women with rifles, why shouldn't society trust them with wedding rings?

But some analysts say that while the vote was a sign of growing public support for gay and lesbian causes, it also illustrates the narrowness of that transformation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121903719.html?hpid=topnews

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. Hello? Marriage! Adoption!

[iamjoy]

2. A Mid Point, Perhaps?

Or a way station?

It is moving in the right direction, but the journey isn't over yet...

[Skittles]

3. definitely a start

there's still a long, long way to go

[toddaa]

4. The pessimistic take on repeal of DADT

"Hey, you got a repeal of DADT. It's the best we could do under the circumstances. Now, stop bothering us about DOMA and get out the vote."

[pinto]

8. Yeah, that's definitely a pessimistic view on the DADT vote. Me, I think it's a win to build on.

And one not to be discounted in the bigger picture. :hi:

[toddaa]

9. I'm never satisfied

Until all humans are equal before the law, I'll remain a pain in the ass. The fight for civil rights requires a few stubborn assholes in the ranks and I'm willing to contribute my considerable talent in that respect.

:evilgrin:

[nevergiveup]

5. I think it allows us to begin the second phase.

It was a huge hurdle that needed to be crossed.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. I think it's a turning point.

When gay soldiers begin demanding the same benefits for their partners and children that are given to traditional spouses, the house of cards is going to come crashing down. They will have to treat gay people equally by recognizing marriages that aren't legal now, according to the federal government. I won't be surprised if the Pentagon goes to Congress and asks them to overturn DOMA. Something will have to be done about DOMA in order for the military to keep their bureaucratic machine from breaking.

[pinto]

7. How cool. The main stream media piece posing the question is it's own answer.

DADT repeal, a big step forward in its own right, also supports a broader discussion of legal equality under the law for GLBT citizens. It's a perception benefit, imo, as well as a concrete piece of advancing civil rights for all.

:thumbsup:

[cate94]

10. It is a step in the right direction

and maybe because this hurdle took so long I don't expect the rest of our rights to follow quickly.

OTOH, having open gays in the military will dispel many of the myths the hate crowd has been spewing -and to a large captive audience.

It is true that the vote in the Senate was narrow, but the citizen support for the repeal was pretty damn large. And the number of supporters in the military was surprising. I am more hopeful than ever about achieving our civil rights.