Here are the takeaways from today’s press conference on the certification of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal: (1) the policy will be gone in 60 days, on September 20, 2011, (2) the decision to certify was unanimous among the service chiefs, (3) in the meantime, a court injunction still prohibits the military from discharging or investigating individuals under DADT, (4) the Pentagon doesn’t believe it needs to impose a new nondiscrimination policy on the basis of sexual origination and gender identity, (5) because of DOMA the partners of gay and lesbian servicemembers still won’t be eligible for most federal benefits, although the implementation team will conduct a review to determine which benefits they can apply for, (6) the Department of Justice will argue that the Log Cabin Republican lawsuit challenging DADT should be dismissed since the policy will be officially gone by the end of September, (7) transgender people still can’t enlist, (8) discharged gay and lesbian servicemembers can re-enlist if they meet all of the qualifications of service.
A video compilation of some of the highlights from this afternoon’s press conference, which began at 4:30: