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Obama meets with Joint Chiefs on ‘Don’t Ask’

Gibbs believes president has seen parts of report

Published

16 years ago

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White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed on Monday that President Obama met with the Joint Chiefs on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a planned topic of discussion on Monday during a meeting between President Obama and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the White House.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday confirmed that Obama was meeting the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Oval Office to discuss “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Pentagon report on the matter.

“I think the president right now is in the Oval Office meeting with the Joint Chiefs about the issue and about the report,” Gibbs said in response to questioning from the Blade. “We look forward to the presentation by [Defense] Secretary [Robert] Gates and [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] Adm. [Mike] Mullen tomorrow and then their testimony later in the week.”

Gibbs said he believes the president has seen “parts of” the report on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which is due for release Tuesday. Still, Gibbs said he would need to double-check whether Obama has indeed seen the study and doesn’t “want to ahead of” the release of report “in terms of commenting.”

In February, Mullen testified before the Senate that he favors allowing openly gay people to serve in the military. But the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force have said they oppose legislative action on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before the Pentagon completes its report. New Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos has said he continues to oppose an end to the military’s gay ban.

Support for repeal from the service chiefs could be key in moving several fence-sitting senators to back an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although Gibbs has previously hinted he doesn’t think unanimous agreement among the chiefs is essential to moving forward.

Asked on Monday whether the president attempted during the Oval Office meeting to get the service chiefs to support repeal in lame duck, Gibbs said he’d supply the Blade a readout of the discussion later.

One question remains on when the Senate will schedule a floor vote on major defense legislation that includes language for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has committed to holding a vote on the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill, but hasn’t yet announced a date for scheduling the motion to proceed.

Jim Manley, a Reid spokesperson, told the Blade on Monday morning there’s “nothing new yet” with regard to when the majority leader would schedule a vote on the defense authorization bill.

The majority leader is likely to bring up the legislation following Senate hearings this week on the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” report.

A number of key senators have said they wouldn’t vote to move forward with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal in lame duck unless Senate leadership sets up a more open amendment process on the defense authorization bill than what was proposed during an earlier failed attempt at bringing the legislation to the floor in September.

Reid has said he wouldn’t bring up the DREAM Act as an amendment to the defense authorization bill during lame duck and would instead bring up the immigration-related legislation as a standalone measure. Still, a number of senators have said a more open amendment process is a condition for their vote in ending the filibuster on the motion to proceed.

Gibbs noted decisions have already made with some amendments and that the DREAM Act has been taken off the table as an amendment to the defense authorization bill.

“Obviously, I think they have made some decisions about some amendments, and some amendments that have been taken out and voted on separately,” Gibbs said. “I think we just talked about that in terms of the DREAM Act.”

Gibbs said he’d have to speak with the White House Office of Legislative Affairs on whether the president has given Senate leadership any guidance on handling the defense authorization bill when it comes up again during the lame duck session.

Asked whether the president believes the amendment process in September was fair, Gibbs reiterated the president’s commitment to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislatively.

“I think the president strongly believed that this was an issue that can, should — can and should be solved legislatively, encouraged the Senate to act legislatively on the defense authorization bill, and, particularly, changing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,'” Gibbs said. “That’s our position now and I don’t anticipate that the release of the report will do anything but strengthen that case.”

Watch a video of the questioning here (via Think Progress):

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National

Lou Chibbaro Jr. documentary wins award from NLGJA

‘Lou’s Legacy’ produced by D.C.’s Mattachine Society

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1 day ago

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September 2, 2026

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“Lou’s Legacy: a Reporter’s Life at the Washington Blade,” a documentary produced by The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., will receive an Excellence in Journalism Award from NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. 

The film premiered on WETA PBS in D.C. and Maryland Public Television (MPT) in June of 2025. The documentary’s Emmy-nominated director and producer Patrick Sammon will accept the award for Excellence in Local Television on Sept. 11 at NLGJA’s National Convention in San Francisco. 

“Lou’s Legacy” was produced in association with the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., a non-profit LGBTQ history society dedicated to conducting original archival research. Aside from Sammon, the NLGJA is recognizing other members of the film’s production team including Producer Julianne Donofrio, Editor Amir Jaffer, Executive Producer Charles Francis, and Executive Producer Pate Felts.  

“Lou’s Legacy” tells the story of two D.C. icons — legendary Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro Jr. and beloved drag performer Donnell Robinson, known to generations of Washington audiences as “Ella Fitzgerald.” Through Lou’s nearly five-decade career at the Blade and Ella’s return to the stage after a three-year hiatus following COVID, the 29-minute documentary explores the history of Washington’s LGBTQ community and today’s rising backlash against LGBTQ rights, including laws targeting drag performers. 

“All students of journalism can learn a lot from the story of Lou Chibbaro, Jr. Lou has chronicled nearly five decades of LGBTQ+ life and the community’s struggle for equality in Washington, D.C. Lou’s work and the role of the queer press has been essential in covering stories the mainstream media would often ignore or erase,” said Ryan Levi, president of the D.C. chapter of the NLGJA.  

“We are thrilled to receive this award from the NLGJA,” said the film’s director Patrick Sammon. “Lou Chibbaro’s nearly five decade career at the Washington Blade demonstrates the essential role LGBTQ journalism plays in telling our community’s stories and documenting its history. This recognition from journalists who follow in Lou’s footsteps is particularly meaningful to me and the rest of our production team.”

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Arizona

Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead

Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime

Published

2 days ago

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September 1, 2026

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The shooting happened outside Venture-N bar in Tucson, Ariz. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.

Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.

The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.

Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.

Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.

“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”

According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.

Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.

“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”

“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”

Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.

The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.

“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”

A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.

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Congress

HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH

Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Published

3 days ago

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August 31, 2026

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Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, left, campaigns with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign)

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.

Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.

Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.

Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.

A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.

The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.

Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.

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