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Week Of Anti-DADT Protests Begins With A Vigil

11/15/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
GetEQUAL has begun a week of protests against the continuation of the law known colloquially as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. They began with a vigil at the grave site of Sergeant Leonard Matlovich. The protests begin amid growing signs that the White House is not exactly getting out and pushing for the repeal of DADT vigorously.

Several tweets, including from Lt. Dan Choi, who was at the vigil, indicate that things are not going well with regards to the lame duck repeal effort. Scott Wooledge tweeted in chronological order:

.@LtDanChoi ask Deputy Chief of Staff if @HarryReid will commit to repealing #DADT in lame duck: “I don’t know.” http://yfrog.com/7b7epij

RT@LtDanChoi ask Deputy Chief of Staff if @HarryReid will commit to repealing #DADT in lame duck: “I don’t know.” http://yfrog.com/7b7epij 28 minutes ago via Twitterrific Retweeted by Clarknt67 and 1 other

@SenatorReid we will hold you accountable for your actions on #DADT repeal. You must act now to strengthen our nation. Pls RT. #lgbt 35 minutes ago via web Retweeted by Clarknt67 and 3 others

Hearing reports that two gay groups are going to support dropping the #DADT repeal. Who do they really support?! http://politi.co/c2hMXG 29 minutes ago via web Retweeted by Clarknt67

#DADT deja vu. @HRC and @GetEqual push inside-outside strategy for repeal as lame duck kicks off http://bit.ly/crDO1u 27 minutes ago via web Retweeted by Clarknt67 and 2 others

RT @TheAdvocateMag #DADT Vigil Held at Matlovich Gravesite, starting a week of actions to pressure a vote http://tinyurl.com/2e3u8h3 26 minutes ago via web Retweeted by Clarknt67 and 1 other

Why won’t @BarackObama tell McCain off? RT @wondermann5: @GetEQUAL, pls go to John McCain’s office and protest to him. #lgbt #McCain #DADT 11 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone

Correx: Reid staffer (NOT Levin) Josh Campbell says @WhiteHouse has not engaged with their office on issue of #DADT repeal #LGBT 8 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone

# Correx: REID staffer Josh Campbell tells @LtDanChoi doesn’t know if #DADT repeal will be NDAA #LGBT http://yfrog.com/jjo4quj 5 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone

The report about the two LGBT groups ‘supporting’ the dropping of DADT’s repeal language from the Defense budget is slightly erroneous, or at least gives an impression that is erroneous given that the two groups are more concerned about the health of the soldiers serving active duty rather than whether or not DADT is repealed right away.

It should be noted that none of the people who are pictured have a right to wear their uniforms any more, which prompted one comment: “Why do I think…. that across the river in the Pentagon…. someone is setting this whole scene… to the song…. YMCA?”

Pictured:

Autumn Sandeen lays the wreath in front of, from left to right, Ian Finkenbinder, Miriam Ben-Shalom, Evelyn Thomas, Robert Smith, James Pietrangelo, Dan Choi and Mara Boyd.