Lieberman to introduce repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman will become the chief sponsor of a piece of legislation that will repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT,) the military's 1993 ban on gays and lesbians serving openly. The repeal will likely be formally announced early next week.

Lieberman said that a repeal of the ban provides Americans with "an equal opportunity to do whatever job their talents and sense of purpose and motivations lead them to want to do -- including military service." He told the "New York Daily News" that the ban hurts the military as well. "When you artificially limit the pool of people who can enlist then you are diminishing military effectiveness."

"Senator Lieberman's announcement of the introduction of a Senate repeal bill is a welcome development following what has already been a historic several weeks in the campaign to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "As a member of the Armed Services Committee and a longtime leader on issues of national security and foreign policy, Senator Lieberman's leadership on this bill is another positive sign that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' can end this year."

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), an organization dedicated to assisting those affected by DADT, has proposed a "Set End Date/Delayed Implementation" model for a full repeal that would take 18 months to go into effect. This program would allow the Pentagon to continue the implementation review process while at the same time locking in a definite date for a full repeal.

The SLDN praised Lieberman for sponsoring the repeal. "After 16 long years, we anticipate the first Senate repeal bill, thanks to the leadership of Sen. Lieberman. He has a long history of supporting a strong national security and in opposing discrimination of all kinds. We welcome the senator's leadership and commitment," Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the SLDN, said. "Congress, however, must do its job and repeal DADT this year while the Department of Defense conducts its study. Both can and should happen concurrently. The best way to erase the law from the books in 2010 is for the Obama Administration to include repeal in the defense authorization bill."

The Independent senator has not released the details of the repeal. "We anticipate knowing more later this week," Lieberman's press secretary, Marshall Wittmann, said.

Pundits are questioning whether or not the bill will receive bipartisan support. "We are in the process of reaching out to Republicans," Wittmann told the "Advocate."

Lieberman was asked to sponsor the bill by the White House and by gay rights groups.

Joining Sen. Lieberman, several other prominent politicians have demonstrated their support for a full repeal, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General Colin Powell, and former Vice President Dick Cheney. "When the chiefs come forward and say, 'We think we can do it,' then it strikes me as it's time to reconsider the policy," Cheney said.