Don't Ask, Don't Tell news stories on Newser

Obama Blamed Fox News for Political Woes

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:22:15 CDT

President Obama accused Fox News of hobbling his political success by repeatedly saying he's a Muslim, according to a new book on his administration. During a closed-door meeting with labor leaders in 2010, Obama said he was "losing white males" who watch Fox News and "hear Obama is a Muslim...

Gay Kiss Is Milestone, but Military Must Do More

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:37:05 CST

When Marissa Gaeta stepped off the USS Oak Hill after a three-month deployment and gave her girlfriend the "first kiss" , it was just one example of the "exemplary progress" the US military has made in "modernizing its culture," declares the Los Angeles Times in an editorial. But while the gay...

Milestone: 2 Women Share 'First Kiss' in Navy Tradition

John Johnson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:47:44 CST

Those who still pine for don't ask, don't tell better not look, either: Two female sailors shared a traditional "first kiss" today after a Navy ship returned from sea, reports AP . Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kissed her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, after Gaeta's ship docked...

Gay Troops Sue Over DOMA

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:26:44 CDT

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may be gone, but married gay and lesbian service members aren’t done fighting for equal rights: Six active troops and two veterans are filing suit today to challenge the Defense of Marriage Act. Lead plaintiffs Shannon McLaughlin, a Massachusetts Army National Guard major, and her wife,...

Obama: Don't Just Sit There When People Boo a Soldier

Mark Russell — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 06:04:20 CDT

Ah, election season—when politicians remember that they once had guts. President Obama swung hard at GOP presidential hopefuls last night, blasting them for not condemning the crowd that booed a gay soldier at a Republican debate on Sept. 22, reports the Hill . "We don’t believe in the kind of...

Santorum: 'I Condemn' Boos of Gay Soldier

John Johnson — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:52:32 CDT

Rick Santorum looked to bring boo-gate to a halt on Fox News yesterday: "I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier," he said, referring to the handful of jeers during a question at the GOP debate about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The candidate says he didn't speak up at...

Discharged Gay Soldiers Suing for Full Severance

Rob Quinn — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:29:00 CDT

"Don't Ask Don't Tell" wasn't cold in its grave before Obama administration lawyers were in court opposing giving full severance pay to service members honorably discharged under the policy. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case on behalf of 142 people discharged under the policy since 2005, reports the...

Daily Show Applauds Our New Gay Army

Kevin Spak — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:22:00 CDT

The Daily Show reported on the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last night with its customary level of sobriety and dignity. Which is to say, Jason Jones was wearing short-shorts and rubbing his belly under a too-small camouflage T-shirt. “The nightmare is real!” Jones declared, waving a martini glass...

Navy Officer, Partner Wed as 'Don't Ask' Ends

Rob Quinn — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:57:22 CDT

Navy Lt. Gary Ross, like every other gay and lesbian service member, was free to disclose his sexuality as of midnight—and he did it in style. The 33-year-old lieutenant and his partner of 11 years traveled from their home in Arizona to Vermont so they could marry as the...