Rainbow Alliance protests “don’t ask don’t tell”

The Rainbow Alliance held a silent protest on Tuesday challenging the military’s controversial… The Rainbow Alliance held a silent protest on Tuesday challenging the military’s controversial “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, the same day the U.S. Senate blocked debate on legislation that could provide a vehicle for repealing the policy.

Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block debate on the defense-spending bill after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would attach a number of the Democrats’ election-year priorities, including “don’t ask don’t tell,” while also moving to limit the amendments offered by Republicans, according to the New York Times.

The proposition to repeal the controversial law, which prohibits openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people from serving in the military, will likely come up again following the November midterm elections.

Here at Pitt, members of Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance chapter protested outside the Cathedral of Learning throughout the morning and afternoon. The group, which promotes the interests and concerns of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer and allied community, joined a host of other organizations across the country seeking to end what they are calling unlawful discharges from the military.

James Weaver, Pitt Rainbow Alliance president, said his organization was protesting to raise awareness about the vote.

Following the Senate vote, Weaver said many of the protesters were disappointed, but he still viewed the event as a success.

“We really just wanted to raise awareness, and I think we accomplished that goal,” Weaver said. “We had a number of people from outside Rainbow Alliance join the protest.”

Weaver acknowledged that it is often difficult to pass controversial legislation so close to an election, and he said that his organization plans to stay involved with the “don’t ask don’t tell” debate.

In a news release from the national advocacy group GetEQUAL, spokesman Brad Luna expressed frustration over the Senate’s decision.

“We are outraged after watching our right to serve openly in the military be volleyed back and forth like a political football while our community has done all we possibly can to secure our dignity,” Luna said.

In the release, Luna said GetEQUAL is circulating an online petition calling President Obama to issue an executive order “to unequivocally state that [sexually based] military discharges must end immediately.”

Currently, the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy mandates the discharge of openly gay, lesbian or bisexual service members, according to the Service Members Legal Defense Network website. A repeal of the law would allow openly gay and lesbian individuals to serve in the military.

Officials from Pitt’s ROTC and in the Oakland Army recruiting office were not available for comment on the legislation or the silent protest Tuesday.

Rainbow Alliance Vice President Dylan Drobish said the group’s demonstration was silent to symbolize the silence that soldiers must keep while serving their country.

“These soldiers signed up to protect the freedoms that Americans have, yet they are denied their basic freedoms,” Drobish said.

Drobish, a senior, is gay and once had a dream of being in the Air Force and serving his country.

“I slowly realized I couldn’t live that way and not be true to who I am,” he said.

Weaver said he hopes the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” will allow service members to serve openly, regardless of their sexual orientation.

The scene at Pitt was repeated all over the country this week, and even Lady Gaga got involved in the protests. The pop diva held a rally in Portland, Maine, on Monday to put pressure on lawmakers to support the repeal.

She called the policy “wrong, unjust and backward” during the rally.

Chance Thomas, a member of the Rainbow Alliance who attended the protest, was a member of the Navy for more than five years. Having fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, Thomas said he has had a difficult history with the military’s policy.

“When you’re fighting with people, it doesn’t matter where you grew up, or what color you are,” Thomas said. “Most soldiers, while in the midst of battle, could care less if someone is gay.”