haven't even read the article, but if his last name is wilfahrt, well, I Feel Bad for you, Son.

7/6/2011 12:24:14 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/16/troops-march-in-san-diegos-gay-pride-parade/

Quote :

"Troops march in San Diego's gay pride parade SAN DIEGO — About 200 active-duty troops and veterans wearing T-shirts advertising their branch of service marched Saturday in San Diego's gay pride parade with American flags and rainbow banners, marking what is believed to be the first time a military contingent has participated in such an event in the U.S."

The times they are a-changin'

7/19/2011 5:29:48 PM

Gays? In my Navy?

7/19/2011 6:04:23 PM

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/21/breaking-pentagon-to-certify-military-readiness-for-dadt-repeal/?hpt=po_bn2

Quote :

"BREAKING: Pentagon to certify military readiness for DADT repeal (CNN) - The Pentagon is set to certify that the U.S. military is prepared to accept openly gay and lesbian service members, and doing so will not harm military readiness, a U.S. official told CNN on Thursday. According to the official, who spoke on condition of not being identified, an announcement of that certification - which is required to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy - is likely to come Friday. Under a bill passed last year that set up a process for repealing the controversial policy, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, along with President Barack Obama, have to sign a certification that confirms the military's ability to accept the integration of openly gay and lesbian troops. Even after certification, there will be a 60-day waiting period before the repeal is fully implemented."

Looks like it'll officially be off the books by September. And my understanding is that the discharges have already stopped as well.

7/21/2011 8:08:08 PM

the DADT training was pretty lame. Some funny as fuck questions came up.

7/21/2011 10:57:09 PM

bout damn time

7/22/2011 12:32:13 PM

Ask and tell

7/22/2011 1:22:00 PM

http://www.servicemembers.org/

They have a count down clock running on DADT. About 39 minutes seconds left on this old policy.

9/19/2011 11:19:52 PM

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the American military hasn't managed to collapse since this became official.

9/20/2011 2:21:14 AM

Shockingly, the military is still here.

9/20/2011 8:51:54 AM

...for now.

9/20/2011 3:20:44 PM

I wonder if this could be used to fight the amendments republicans are trying to push through.

The nc democrats should run commercials pointing this out...

"gays: good enough for our military, good enough for nc. Vote no on amenendment 1"

Or

"gays: dying for your rights, fight for theirs"

9/20/2011 8:04:02 PM

I predict problems at West Point, The Citadel, and the Marine Corps

9/20/2011 8:14:09 PM

^^
More like: I though the gays would freak me out, but after serving with some of them, they are just like me.

9/20/2011 9:49:54 PM

Article out about how the Marines were the only service to show up with a recruiting both at an equality fair

9/21/2011 7:27:09 AM

Social change isn't abrupt. It will take decades to undo the bullshit that DADT has given our military.

9/21/2011 8:42:19 AM

hot damn this horrible fucking policy is gone

9/21/2011 10:41:10 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/republican-debate-dadt-repeal-rick-santorum_n_977105.html

yes, let's boo the soldier that voluntarily chose to serve in Iraq....

assholes

9/23/2011 12:30:41 PM

How disgusting. How predictable.

9/23/2011 1:17:46 PM

I still don't understand the hatred for gays. I mean, I personally don't care for their lifestyles, etc., but in the end, it makes no difference to me. At the end of the day, my day wasn't ruined because gay people exist.

9/23/2011 1:27:12 PM

religion doesn't make sense, by definition.

9/23/2011 1:28:55 PM

haha, true

9/23/2011 1:32:03 PM

Just saw an update on the Fehrenbach dude. A reminder for anyone who doesn't remember who that is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aubrey-sarvis/air-force-boots-their-25_b_205553.html

Quote :

"Air Force Boots Their 25 Million Dollar Aviator Lieutenant Colonel Victor J. Fehrenbach, a fighter weapons systems officer, has been flying the F-15E Strike Eagle since 1998. He has flown numerous missions against Taliban and al-Qaida targets, including the longest combat mission in his squadron's history. On that infamous September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Fehrenbach was handpicked to fly sorties above the nation's capital. Later he flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has received at least 30 awards and decorations including nine air medals, one of them for heroism, as well as campaign medals for Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq."

And from theDuke866:

Quote :

"Wow, I know him. He was an instructor in my flight school squadron for advanced jet training. Callsign "Stain". Good dude. "

Quote :

"yeah, i'm sympathetic to Fehrenbach's situation, as I believe he got outed by a 3rd party, and from what I've seen, has handled himself pretty professionally."

"Repeal in Action: Victor Fehrenbach Wins Long Fight"
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/30/Repeal_in_Action_Victor_Fehrenbach_Wins_Long_Fight/

Quote :

"On my last day in the Air Force, I received my official notification that my discharge is withdrawn. Thanks!"

Kind of last minute, but it seems to have worked out for the best.



[Edited on September 30, 2011 at 7:39 PM. Reason : .]

9/30/2011 7:37:52 PM

That is very super awesome. He was on Rachel's show a bunch throughout this.

9/30/2011 8:50:05 PM

Kinda strikes me as the big Air Force machine did what they were required to do by law, but kinda dragged their feet about it and didn't pursue it aggressively, then tossed it as soon as they had the legal authority to do so.

In somewhat related news, Rachel Maddow can choke on a vagina for all I care.

9/30/2011 9:03:20 PM

Haha. Tell us how you really feel.

9/30/2011 9:41:49 PM

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/28/after-demise-of-dont-ask-activists-call-for-end-to/

9/30/2011 11:47:06 PM

10/1/2011 12:02:41 AM

Yawn. So are we still killing towelheads or what? That is still the purpose of soldiers, right? To kill people?

10/1/2011 12:31:56 AM

^^^ when slippery slope turns out to be right

10/1/2011 2:25:28 PM

This is actually kinda hot.



2 women share 1st kiss at US Navy ship's return

Quote :

"VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif., descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them. Both women, ages 22 and 23 respectively, are fire controlmen in the Navy. They met at training school and have been dating for two years. Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity. Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets. The Navy said the money would be used to host a Christmas party for the children of sailors. The ship returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story following an 80-day deployment to Central America. The crew of more than 300 participated in exercises involving the militaries of Honduras, Guatemala Colombia and Panama as part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012. Snell is based on the USS Bainbridge, the guided missile destroyer that helped rescue cargo captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45753034/ns/us_news-life/#.TvJIFFaAGKw

12/21/2011 3:58:48 PM

Quote :

"^^^ when slippery slope turns out to be right"

You seem to be implying that there's something wrong with transgenders serving in the military.

12/21/2011 4:05:41 PM

"ACLU WINS: Vets Discharged Under DADT To Get Full Separation Pay"
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/01/aclu-wins-vets-discharged-under-dadt-to.html#disqus_thread

1/8/2013 11:07:13 AM

Good!

By the way, are there any seriously anti-gay posters on TWW?

I don't want it assumed I'm a bigot simply for being a "conservative."

1/8/2013 12:26:31 PM

I am sure there are more than several. Just as there are more than a few true racists. And plenty of sexists.

1/8/2013 12:46:37 PM

Yes, there are many anti-gay posters here who don't think that gay people should have the same secular rights that straight people do.

1/8/2013 12:55:40 PM

Who?

Call them out!

1/8/2013 1:05:59 PM

Seriously? Did you never read any of the DOMA or Amendment 1 threads?

Here is a start:
http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=626655

1/8/2013 1:18:46 PM

I did, but I didn't take names.

Thanks for the link! Sorry I'm too lazy to use search-

1/8/2013 1:24:46 PM

As someone who is profoundly disgusted by the thought of bigots having sex...

1/8/2013 2:30:12 PM

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/marines-spouses-clubs-admit-sex-spouses-18173774

Quote :

"Marines Tell Spouses Clubs: Admit Same-Sex Spouses The Marine Corps has advised its legal staff that spouses clubs operating on its installations must admit same-sex spouses if they wish to remain on the bases."

1/9/2013 10:27:24 PM

May Ask, Must Tell?

1/10/2013 1:02:47 PM

I think "admit" is meant "allow admission to the club" not "you will be forced to come out of the closet."

1/10/2013 1:23:19 PM

Quote :

"By the way, are there any seriously anti-gay posters on TWW?"

It's definitely changed over the years, but for the internet, tdub really isn't that bad any more. That seems to be a trend across the board.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/01/11/republican-political-insiders-marriage-equality-issue-best

Quote :

"'We increasingly look prejudiced, and not a little stupid, on this issue,' says one Republican respondent to a National Journal poll."

Quote :

"The poll, in which the Journal periodically asks insiders about various issues, shows 48% of Republican respondents choosing “My party should avoid the issue” when asked which of several statements most closely mirrors their view on same-sex marriage. Twenty-seven percent said the party should support marriage equality, 11% said it should oppose it, and 14% chose “other.”"

1/11/2013 6:53:15 PM

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/25/16686603-rebuffed-by-fort-bragg-spouses-club-lesbian-army-wife-named-bases-spouse-of-the-year

Quote :

"In the online election held Tuesday, Ashley Broadway captured the Fort Bragg vote “by a country mile,” said Babette Maxwell, founder of Military Spouse magazine and the Military Spouse of the Year award. "

1/25/2013 3:07:11 PM

Haha. Nice!

1/25/2013 3:50:47 PM

"Pentagon to extend certain benefits to same-sex spouses"
By Ernesto Londoño, Updated: Tuesday, February 5, 2:38 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/2013/02/05/3f68a638-6fc6-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend

Quote :

"Officials at the Pentagon would not say which new benefits the department has determined it can extend to same-sex couples without violating the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that bars the federal government from legally recognizing same-sex unions. Gay rights advocates have called for benefits including housing privileges, access to base recreational facilities and joint duty assignments for couples in the military. Legal experts say, however, that the Pentagon will be unable to extend more than 100 benefits while the Defense of Marriage Act remains in place."

It's progress, but as the article says, DOMA is the main road block standing in the way. Luckily SCOTUS is taking that up next month. Good on the Pentagon.

[Edited on February 5, 2013 at 3:32 PM. Reason : .]

2/5/2013 3:31:32 PM

I'm a fan.

2/5/2013 4:12:38 PM

I remember posting in this thread like 4 years ago about how the UK recruits at pride events, and how that might one day come to pass in the US. And now there's this:



[Edited on June 10, 2013 at 9:20 PM. Reason : .]

6/10/2013 9:19:53 PM

Oh no!!! What is this country coming to? Dogs and cats living together, too?

6/10/2013 9:38:46 PM