Thirteen activists and LGBT veterans were arrested today after handcuffing themselves to the White House fence to call for the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The action, organized by GetEQUAL, was a call for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama to follow through with their promise of repealing the anti-gay policy. The vets and activists say the repeal can be done during the "lame duck" session that began today.
President Barack Obama spoke to attendees at the White House LGBT Pride Month reception last night.
Obama highlighted some of the administration's achievements for LGBT rights since taking office, including passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding domestic partnership benefits to Federal employees and working toward ending "don't ask, don't tell."
Kevin Webb and Jeshawna Wholley have been invited by President Obama’s administration to attend today’s White House reception for LGBT Pride Month, according to a press release from the students.
In what national gay rights activists called “a dramatic breakthrough,” the White House issued a statement Monday that supports Congress repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy this year.
“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to build momentum at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in coalition with GA Voice, will share a letter from a service member every day as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. We’re urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bringing repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories. For more information, please visit the campaign website: www.sldn.org/letters
Protesters arrested outside White House, Sen. McCain’s office