Senate to review 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

July 28, 5:38 AMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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       Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Photo: AP)

For the first time since it took effect in 1993, the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy will get a Senate review, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) prodded Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to agree to a hearing to review DADT.  Levin agreed after Gillibrand dropped her push for an 18-month moratorium on DADT discharges.

Gillbrand, who filled Hillary Clinton's seat in the Senate, said, "I think we have a real chance of moving the ball forward for this administration."

Citing recent polls showing most Americans favor a repeal of DADT, Gillibrand said, "I do not think it represents who we are as Americans and our values."

Gillibrand said she hoped the hearing would "begin to frame the debate for the (Obama) administration," which is reviewing whether to replace the Clinton-era policy. She called the hearing "the next step on this progression on how we get rid of this policy."

Gillibrand said the policy has weakened national security and hampered the war on terror because some Middle East experts and Farsi language speakers, like Lt. Dan Choi, have been forced out of the military.

Over 13,000 servicemembers have been discharged under DADT since its inception.  Since Barack Obama has been president, 265 have been discharged.  Although Mr. Obama promised to repeal DADT as president during his campaign, he has made it clear that he will not intervene in DADT discharges.