Pentagon Issues Revised Guidelines on Discharge Procedures under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), released a statement today on new guidelines issued by the Pentagon that signal a major shift in how discharges under DADT will proceed.
Statement by Army veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:
“The Pentagon appears to be saying to the court and to service members that it will provide all service members the protections already afforded officers, but with no delegation of that authority: All proposed DADT discharges, regardless of grade and rank, will be reviewed at the highest civilian levels. This can be a major constructive development for gay and lesbian service members.
“This important change could dramatically reduce DADT discharges, if DoD applies the Witt legal standard throughout the military, which requires the Pentagon to find that gay service members would harm military readiness, unit cohesion and good order, before they are discharged. But this Pentagon guidance memo does not end DADT. It is still in place, and service members should not come out.
“The fact that DADT remains law further underscores the urgent need for the full Senate to vote for repeal when it returns to lame-duck session next month.”
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SLDN WARNING: Gay and lesbian service members OR those interested in signing up to serve and have questions may contact the SLDN hotline to speak with a staff attorney: 202-328-3244 x100. SLDN also re-issued its warning to active-duty service members, including those in the reserves and the national guard, to know they’re at risk. Anyone with questions or concerns should call our hotline or visit: www.SLDN.org/StillAtRisk.