Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “came out” in favor of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell permanently. Piggybacking on a proposal that New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is considering, Reid said he would prefer a permanent moratorium on the Pentagon’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, rather than the 18-month suspension suggested by Gillibrand.
According to the NY Times’ Caucus blog:
Ms. Gillibrand, eager to court support from the large New York gay community and improve her standing with liberals prior to her election bid next year, is reportedly considering trying to add a moratorium to the Pentagon policy measure now being considered in the Senate.
The Human Rights Campaign thinks it’s a long shot, though,
according to The Advocate,.
“HRC believes that this temporary repeal amendment should only be offered and voted on if we are confident that there are sufficient votes to advance the issue of permanent repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” said HRC legislative director Allison Herwitt. “It is not yet clear that threshold can be achieved this week.”
Photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Harry Reid