How DADT Was Repealed  Today's historic vote to repeal Don't Ask
Don't Tell was the result of a behind-the-scenes effort in which
gay activists of all stripes banded together—and won the day.
This afternoon 65 senators, including six Republicans, voted to
repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the law that barred openly gay
soldiers from serving their country. In the obligatory
appearance, Senate lead sponsor Joe Lieberman thanked Joe
Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Aubrey Sarvis
of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "Part of why
this passed," Lieberman said, "is that gay and lesbian citizens
took advantage of their First Amendment rights and petitioned
our government and throughout the country, speaking to senators
where they live about why this law should be changed."  That
must sound pretty great to the establishment lobbyists at HRC
and its longtime ally on this issue, SLDN. It's not easy playing
the conventional role in the gay revolution. Two years ago, 50
transgender and queer ac