I knew one Marine who was discharged in 2002 under the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) provision after "compromising" Polaroid(!) photos of them circulated amongst the unit.
Under President Barack Obama DADT, was repealed. Now, under President Joe Biden the Secretary of Defense and the Military are undertaking the task of undoing the Bad Conduct and Dishonorable Discharges, foisted upon LGBTQ service members.
"As we mark the 12th anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," I want to recognize the service members, DOD civilians and DOD families who served courageously and forged new pathways for future generations of our force. Their contributions have made our armed forces more representative of the American people and better equipped to tackle future challenges."
~ Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Sept. 20, 2023
Once again, I will point out the 2020 and 2024 vote for President Biden also means voting for the progressive cabinet members and progressive ideas advanced under the Executive branch of Government. Only bad faith actors will continue to claim there is no difference between the parties and only fascists and bigots will vote for Traitor Trump.
Again as far as I know this has received scan attention from the Corporate Media. Nor have I heard any terminally on-line lefty types giving credit to President Biden for this. And again this Biden policy change will have a huge impact for those Veterans kicked out under DADT; including but not limited to access GI Bill benefits, healthcare coverage, job options, not to mention pride in their military service.
Contrary to some of the vitriol directed at President Bill Clinton, Don't Ask Don't Tell was a radical first step in ending open discrimination against men and women in the military and American people in general in the 1990's. Too anyone who might ask well why didn't they take it all the way can look at the current reactionary with hunt of Trans persons today for a parallel. In fact if you ever want to know why some policy or some obvious wrong is codified into law can easily find the answer: Republicans.
The Republican Party is wholly wedded to the ideology that Government is not supposed to help anyone. to Republicans Government's power is destructive and Republicans want to use that destructive power to, well, destroy things. That's all.
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| Terrorist Fist Jab |
Republicans don't even want to help members of the military. Look at Tommy PotatoBrain's recently ended blanket filibuster of all Officer promotions. Look at video of Senator Ted Cruz and Steve Daines, and Josh Hawley hooting and hollering and fist-bumping after voting down healthcare coverage for Veterans sickened by toxic burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Republicans don't give a shit about Veterans, or anyone who doesn't have millions of dollars to give them in campaign contributions.
There is always some group the Republicans target and vilify. Currently it is Trans people. But, homosexuals have always been a target of rightwing vitriol. If Republicans get back in power in 2025, their bigoted base of domestic terrorists will feel absolutely embolden and will rightly believe they can attack anyone they identify as LGBTQ. If you think those death camps, Traitor Trump, Steven Miller, and the Project 2025 people have planned for the homeless and "illegal immigrants" won't also be used for Trans people and then outspoken gays, and then anyone else the Right targets you're making a deadly mistake.
Perhaps, you're a white feminist who knows Republican Daddy won't come for you. But, as the Texas abortion laws demonstrate; make a mistake, or step out of your very tightly defined box, and Republicans will slap you back into your place.
2024 is going to be the year of tightly constrained Rightwing violence. This election could very well see rightwing domestic terrorist attacks and outright political violence to change the outcome of votes in certain communities. If Republicans manage to pull off the Coup they tried on January 6th 2021, 2025 is going to see the One Day Dictatorship mimic the 1000 Year Reich.
Vote like your lives depend on it, because they do but, whatever happens be prepared to defend yourself because Republicans are banking on stealing the election and instituting death camps.
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