05-01-09
America Blog: White House Issues New Language on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Policy
Friday, May 01, 2009
White House issues new language on "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy
By John Aravosis (DC) on 5/01/2009 12:00:00 PM
Policy change, or poor editing?
In a move that many people I've spoken with see as a shift in policy, and a backward step from a clear campaign promise that was reiterated during the first days of January of this year, the White House has changed the language on its "Civil Rights" page, as it concerns gay civil rights. The changes were first noted yesterday by gay blogger JoeMyGod. And while most of the deletions noted yesterday have since been un-deleted,
the new language on President Obama's commitment to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy appears to indicate a significant change in policy, for the worse.Prior to yesterday, approximately one half of the White House Web site's Civil Rights page was devoted to gay civil rights. It specifically included 8 promises:
Including sexual orientation in America's already-existing Hate Crimes law.
Passing ENDA.
Supporting Civil Unions and explicitly repealing DOMA.
Opposing any constitutional amendment on marriage.
Repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Expanding Adoption Rights to include gay parents.
Promoting AIDS Prevention.
Empowering women to prevent HIV/AIDS.
As of yesterday, that list of promises was distilled into two sentences, and included only 3 promises:
Passing ENDA.
Supporting Civil Unions, but no longer a mention of repealing DOMA.
Opposing the constitutional amendment.
More:
http://www.sldn.org/news/archive/america-blog-white-house-issues-new-language-on-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/#When:17:47:41Z