Hastings Bill Would Override Gays-in-Military Law

Rep. Alcee Hastings, who is not a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), is sponsoring legislation that would harm the military and detract from planned hearings on the issue of gays in the military. The Hastings bill (H.R. 4180) would effectively suspend enforcement of Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C, which is usually mislabeled "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). Hastings and 30 colleagues (only two of whom serve on the HASC) want to require the military to retain servicemembers who are homosexual, bisexual or transgendered, if they testify (or communicate with Congress) on legislation to repeal the 1993 Eligibility Law. More...