The League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, D.-Fla., recently introduced the proposed Honest and Open Testimony Act bill that would allow service members, including those who are openly lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual, to testify at congressional hearings to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy (DADT) without fear of retribution. The proposed legislation expands the current whistleblower protections between the active duty and Congress.

Although hearings on DADT were expected by the end of the year, they have been postponed and should resume in 2010. Hastings says the bill is needed to ensure that Congress has reliable witnesses. According to the Washington blog The Hill, DADT is more likely to be repealed if it becomes part of the 2010 defense-spending bill, similar to the hate-crimes amendment.

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