In a statement released late Friday afternoon, Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen stated their belief “in the strongest possible terms” that Congress should not act on repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell until the military is able to complete its year-long study of how to implement a repeal within the armed forces. As activists have been pointing out, though, it is highly unlikely that a repeal would have enough support in the House of Representatives to pass following the 2010 elections, making any kind of year-long delay fatal to repeal’s chances. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fired back at Secretary Gates and the Obama Administration on Saturday, saying the Administration should place a moratorium on discharges until the review is completed and repeal can be enacted. The Human Rights Campaign has also begun to criticize the Obama Administration’s leadership on the issue, although many activists and journalists are pointing out that waiting until Gates stated his categorical opposition to repeal makes their criticism too little, too late.

Meanwhile, activists with GetEQUAL and the Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network continued their protest campaign against DADT with a small rally on Saturday, where 100 people rallied for repeal and watched six more activists handcuff themselves to the White House fence in protest.

Elsewhere…

D.C. – LGBT families and immigration reform. (The Daily Dish)

D.C. – Don’t worry, Religious Conservatives: ENDA won’t cut off student loans for conservative religious colleges who don’t want to have fair hiring practices. (The Bilerico Project)

New York – A loud voice for LGBT rights has been silenced – firebrand activist Harry Wieder was hit by a taxi and killed earlier last week. (NY Times)

New Jersey – A prom story with a happy ending: NJ boy allowed to wear a dress to prom. (Towleroad)

Teh Interwebs – F*ck the motherf*cking Pope…in song. (Joe.My.God)