A military newspaper reported last week that House Democrats blocked consideration of two measures to repeal the anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy just days before LGBT veterans and their supporters marched to the White House in protest of the ban on gays serving openly in the armed services.

"Congress seems intent on delaying any debate" on the anti-gay military policy known as DADT, according to a report in the June 26 edition of Military Times. The paper said the House Rules Committee blocked consideration of two repeal amendments to the defense authorization bill.

Adding to the credibility of the report were comments the previous day by House Armed Service Committee chairman Ike Skelton (D-Missouri) and his Senate counterpart Carl Levin (D-Michigan). They told a news conference that they favor conducting a survey of soldiers' attitudes toward serving with gays.

No such survey was conducted when blacks and later, women, were integrated into regular service in the military. Such a democratic approach to decision making would be a radical change from the top down command authority structure that permeates all other military operations.

Skelton has promised to hold a hearing on repeal legislation. One hearing already took place last fall but the Pentagon declined to participate. A repeal bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate.

Levin said repealing DADT "requires presidential leadership. This cannot be addressed successfully without that kind of leadership," Levin said, according to the Washington Post . "It's going to take some real kind of preparation inside of the services for us to successfully deal with that question."

Polling data shows that more than two-thirds of voters favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, which would seem to undercut the claim that repeal requires political courage.

LGBT vets march

Several hundred LGBT military veterans and their supporters marched on the White House on June 27 demanding an immediate end to discharges under DADT. The action was organized by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which was formed in 1993 in response to the DADT policy.

"We are here today to represent the 265 service members who have been discharged since Obama took office," retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning told the crowd that assembled at Farragut Square. The site is named in honor of the naval officer who captured New Orleans during the Civil War.

"We need to send a clear message to the White House that he needs to step up and take a stand, tell Congress and the Pentagon he wants [an end to DADT] as soon as possible," Dunning said. She thanked those who served their country and were dismissed because of their sexual orientation.

"My name is Tommy Cook and I am here to recruit you," said Cook, who was one of the dozen service members who filed the latest, losing major legal challenge to DADT.

The Supreme Court recently declined to hear an appeal of the lower court decision. The court said "it is in the hands of the politicians," Cook said.

"Today is the day we go and tell [President Barack] Obama to change the policy today. We can't fight it anymore in the courts, so we have to put pressure on Congress. We have to make our voices heard," Cook added.

Members of the group wore large buttons with the number 265 and chanted for the "freedom to serve" and "Hey hey, ho, ho, Don't Ask, Don't Tell has got to go," as they marched the few blocks to the White House. The route took them past the statue honoring Baron von Steuben, known as the father of the Army because of the training and discipline he instilled during the Revolutionary War. Most historians now accept that von Steuben probably was gay.

As of Tuesday, SLDN's Web site says that 274 people have been discharged under DADT since January, when the 111th Congress convened and Obama was sworn in.

White House

At the White House the veterans formed a line and deposited their buttons in a bucket held by retired Navy Captain Michael Rankin. The crowd counted off each button as it hit the pail until it contained 265. Boos rang out when that number was reached. The buttons would be delivered to the White House later that day as a symbol of the Obama discharges.

Jose Zuniga, a veteran of the first Gulf War and a "soldier of the year" who was discharged under the pre-DADT policy for coming out at the 1993 March on Washington, addressed the group, speaking of the earlier fight that led to the creation of DADT.  

"My fellow service members and I still bear the scars of that defeat," Zuniga said. "So do more than 13,000 discharged gay and lesbian service members who, under DADT, bear the shame of being told they are not good enough to serve."

Zuniga said Obama's campaign and election raised the hope of a new day in Washington, which has yet to dawn for LGBT Americans.

"We are here to demand that the policies of hatred, bigotry, and discrimination give way to the politics of tolerance, respect for our fellow men and women, and non-discrimination," he said. "We are also here to demand our equal rights."

SLDN officials echoed that sentiment.

"Mr. President, members of Congress: end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' once and for all," said SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. "Pass and sign into law the Military Readiness Enhancement Act."

He said the group was outside the White House for those who have been discharged under DADT and "the 65,000 LGBT service members who are forced to serve in silence,"

"We are here to say to the president, end your silence. Lead. Speak out. Go up to the Hill and tell them this is a priority for you," Sarvis said. "Let the Congress know that you want to partner with them and get a repeal done in this [session of] Congress."