Senate Could Propose ‘Don’t Ask,’ Hate Crimes Provisions
Monday, July 13th, 2009Written By: Kimberly Veautour
If it comes to the Senate floor as planned this week, U.S. Senators are considering the introduction of LGBT-related amendments to the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill.
The potential amendments pave the way for the legislation to make the biggest advances to date in LGBT rights at the federal level.
Dont Ask, Dont Tell
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is considering the introduction of an amendment that would instate an 18-month moratorium on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which would stop further investigation of gay service members until it expires or Congress can accomplish full repeal, as reported by the Associated Press.
Gillibrand’s camp has mphasized that the amendment is still only under consideration and Gillibrand wants ultimately to fully repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” as opposed to instating a moratorium.
“[Gillibrand] is looking more big picture. She wants to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ overall, and she’s working with Sen. [Ted] Kennedy’s office and Congressman [Patrick] Murphy’s office to garner support for this through Congress. So that’s more of her focus — this bigger picture.” Quoted Bethany Lesser, a Gillibrand spokesperson. Lesser said Gillibrand’s office doesn’t have the specifics yet on what day the senator would introduce the bill if she decides to, nor does she know what would prompt Gillibrand to make a definitive decision on introducing the amendment.
We can expect some sort of “Hate Crimes” legislation to be introduced. Allison Herwitt, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, said the defense legislation will be the likely vehicle for the hate crimes measure, and the amendment should come up sometime in the middle of this week.
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