Last week, the House Armed Services Committee approved its annual bill authorizing operations and policies for the Defense Department. Despite high frustration among gay activist groups, the Committee approved the 2010 National Defense Authorization bill without any action in support of legislation to repeal current law stating that homosexuals are not eligible for military service.

As reported by the local Washington, DC gay publication, the Washington Blade, consternation with Democrats' inaction on the military's homosexual ineligibility law has reached the point of paranoia. In the Blade report, titled "HRC Accused of Secret Deal to Repeal 'Don't Ask' Repeal," Aaron Belkin, director of the University of California-based Michael D. Palm Center, accuses the Human Rights Campaign and other prominent LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) groups of conspiring against repeal efforts:

"'It would be one thing to say nothing, but there is pro-active lobbying on the Hill for Congress not to consider [the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] issue'," Belkin is quoted as saying. "'And so the community has been appalling on this issue.'"

When asked about the work of HRC, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, and other groups, Belkin reportedly turned on his own side, saying he feels "'very confident in saying'" that "'not only are they not doing anything but they're pro-actively lobbying against consideration of the issue.'"

Over on the Senate side, Majority Leader Harry Reid issued a statement on June 16 (the same day the House Armed Services Committee was considering its defense authorization bill) declaring that the Senate "would welcome a legislative proposal from the White House on repeal so as to provide clear guidance on what the president would like to see and when. With presidential leadership and direction, I believe we can find the time to get repeal done in this Congress."

Previously, Sen. Reid had called for President Obama to issue an Executive Order to stop enforcement of the 1993 law. Such an action would be an affront to Congress and a breach of faith with the troops he leads. Instead of encouraging President Obama to create a conflict with Congress, Sen. Reid should be defending the legislative prerogatives of Congress.

The Senate is preparing to take up its version of the Department of Defense authorization bill this week.  After the House declined to address the issue, any abrupt action in the Senate could only be explained as pure pandering to homosexual activists. Senators in both parties should stand up for the law that protects the high standards and culture of the world's greatest military.

In an interview with NewsMax, Elaine Donnelly summed up the current situation: "Donnelly: Obama's Gay Military Agenda Isn't Dead."