News
House committee ignores ‘Don’t Ask’ in defense markup (updated)
A House committee markup of major defense budget legislation took place on Wednesday with virtually no reference to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as anticipated by repeal supporters.
During the markup, the House Armed Services Committee considered its version of the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill to provide funding for Pentagon programs.
Although “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is likely to be considered as part of the defense legislation as makes it way through Congress, the issue came up on Wednesday only briefly during House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton’s (D-Mo.) opening remarks.
Skelton said he made an agreement with ranking Republican Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) not to address the matter during the committee markup or to include it in his “chairman’s mark” for the legislation.
The chairman said the decision was in accordance with the wishes of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen to hold off on repeal until the study is complete.
“And you won’t find any mention of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,'” Skelton said. “Mr. McKeon and I have spoken about this, we have agreed to support Adm. Mullen and Secretary Gates’ request for time to study the issue and we do not support this issue being raised during the markup.”
The lack of attention to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” during the House committee markup shouldn’t come as a surprise. Those pushing for an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have said they didn’t feel they had the votes in committee and wanted to take up repeal when the bill comes to the House floor.
In a statement, Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said the markup on Wednesday “was not the time or forum to include the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”
“The defense bill now moves to the House floor where we’ll work with our allies to offer an amendment on the floor and finally vote to end this terrible law,” Sarvis said.
House members are likely to vote on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” next week when the defense authorization bill reaches the floor. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), sponsor of standalone legislation in the House, presumably will submit the amendment to the floor.
Murphy and other repeal supporters have said they’re fairly confident the votes are present in the House for passage of the legislation.
Also next week, the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to consider “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as an amendment to its version of the defense legislation. Those working for repeal have said they’re a couple votes short of passage in this chamber, but are working to solidify more support.
Sarvis said the full effort of everyone seeking to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is necessary for repeal to happen this year.
“For repeal to succeed, it is critical that all proponents for full repeal weigh in now, including the White House,” he said. “We are only a few days away from this historic vote.”
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
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