WASHINGTON, D.C. — Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending
Don´t Ask, Don´t Tell (DADT), released a statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill passed 229 to 186 this afternoon. Last night, the House voted 234 to 194 in favor of attaching an amendment to the bill repealing DADT. SLDN also issued a national action alert warning gay and lesbian service members that they can still be fired under DADT. Read the warning:
www.sldn.org/StillAtRisk.
SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis stated, "With today’s successful final passage vote on the defense budget bill, the repeal of Don´t Ask, Don´t Tell continues to move forward. We now look to the full senate to pass DADT repeal by mid-summer and bring the defense bill to the President’s desk by October 1. While the votes in the House and the Senate Armed Services Committee are historic, it is important for all gay and lesbian, active-duty service members, including those in the reserves and the national guard, to know they’re at risk. They must continue to serve in silence under the Don´t Ask, Don´t Tell law that remains on the books. Congress and the Pentagon need to stay on track to get repeal finalized, hopefully no later than first quarter 2011. We thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Patrick Murphy for their leadership and working to make sure we had a solid vote in the face of tough opposition."
—Tim Moran
