GOP Halts Progress on DADT Repeal

“Shame on the Republicans for not even allowing the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ to be brought to the Senate floor for a debate.”

Michael Mitchell, Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats, released this statement today on the vote for the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision stripping the language known for 17 years as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"Shame on the Republicans for not even allowing the repeal of DADT to be brought to the Senate floor for debate."

"Senate Republicans have tragically blocked the National Defense Authorization Act because it contains language to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," showing themselves to be far outside of the American mainstream. Their actions today are just more obstructionism and willful disregard of what 8 in 10 Americans want. It is a sad the lengths the GOP will go to in order to discriminate against soldiers who want to serve our country openly, honorably and with integrity. It is nothing short of a slap in the face to their service in their fight for our freedoms.

“Today, one man's bigotry and opinions proved how out of touch the GOP is with the majority of Americans. Today Senator John McCain held back progress and history. Senator McCain along with the rest of the Republican party is consistently out of touch with the values that Americans hold true to in 2010.”

“Our commitment to repeal DADT is as strong as it was before the vote. Our commitment continues as we work and campaign to elect courageous democrats who will keep working for our full equality is even stronger. It is imperative that we keep this vote in mind when we go to the polls on Election Day and remember which party stands in the way of our path to equality.”

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With close to 90 affiliates, National Stonewall Democrats is the organization for LGBT and allied Democrats. Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and hold them accountable to advance the pro-equality policies and legislation important to LGBT American.

To learn more about our work, visit www.stonewalldemocrats.org or follow us on Twitter @StonewallDems

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