The long game...

I am trying hard to NOT be pessimistic about some things. Repeal of DADT is HUGE, and what I'm about to write should in no way diminish the significance of that.

However, watching what's happening right now, it's a bit like taking a 14 hour drive and someone saying, "I'll take the wheel" two blocks from home. Joe Solmnese being credited as "leading the fight for repeal" and Dan Choi being invited to the signing of the repeal bill only further underscore how far removed from reality the White House LGBT advisor, Valerie Jarrett, is.

Almost a decade ago, Alex Nicholson and Jarrod Chlapowski founded Servicemembers United. They went to VFW's and talked to vets, they can take credit for getting General Shalikashvili to come out in support years ago. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has, for years, been supporting and defending soldiers and service members being fired under this unjust law. Other groups, as well, which have been in this fight, deserve all the credit. I am not saying that Dan and HRC DON'T deserve credit, but the groups above--they've been doing the driving for years, and when the history books are written, I hope they are chapters, not footnotes.