In a press conference prior to today’s release of the Pentagon’s highly-anticipated ten-month “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” study, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis appeared optimistic that the study would show, as leaked reports already have mentioned, that there will be little to no impact on the military if and when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed.
Stating that the report will show that “92% of service members realize they are serving with gay and lesbian service members today,” Sarvis said he believes the Senate hearing, scheduled for Thursday and Friday “will be positive,” but he expects Senator John McCain to object to repeal. He also said, “I do not believe Senator John McCain can get fifty-one votes to strip the repeal” from the National Defense Authorization Bill, to which the repeal bill is attached. “We will need a couple more Democrats and and handful of Republicans” for the repeal vote to pass, Sarvis added.
Senator McCain was the subject of consternation from discharged gay United States Air Force officer Mike Almy, who stated that McCain continues to falsely state that the military does not pursue gay and lesbian service members. “Senator McCain refuses to discuss the ‘don’t pursue’ [aspect] even with his own constituents.”
When asked if the repeal vote was “now or never,” Sarvis began to say, “Yes,” but then moved to state, “We need to get this done in December,” and, “it will be more difficult in the next Congress.”
Noting that today marks the day, seventeen years ago that then-President Bill Clinton Signed the now infamous “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill into law, Sarvis had great praise for President Obama. “I think the President deserves a lot of credit.” Sarvis thought the process was “too protracted,” but said that the “President is very process-oriented and he’s very proud pf what he’s put in place and has every right to be.” He also took time to state that he had recently seen “aggressive” and “concrete” movement from the White House and the President.
Sarvis also doled praise onto Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. “Twice he has called for repeal in the lame duck session,” and that he knows “the courts are looking at this.” He also told reporters that Secretary Gates has made himself available to Senators to have one-on-one meetings to discuss the study and repeal and “urges” them to take advantage of that offer.
If the lame duck session does not repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” via the NDAA, Sarvis offered some strategy. “If the NDAA is not going to move the question is what vehicle will move?” Sarvis reinforced his belief that the NDAA is “the vehicle of choice,” but he is prepared to try to get the bill attached to “whatever else is moving.”
Indeed, Sarvis does not have a one lane approach. He is planning lawsuits, regardless of the outcome of the study and the vote, “seeking relief” and to reinstate gay and lesbian service members who were discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Ever the team player, and again reinforcing that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will have little to no impact on the military, Sarvis said, “What is always paramount is the military’s mission.”