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Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked

Outspoken activist succeeds in unifying lawmakers against her

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2008 11:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Don’t ask Elaine Donnelly what she thinks of gays in the military—she’ll tell you. Congress made that mistake yesterday, and the anti-gay activist let out what Dana Milbank of the Washington Post calls an “extraordinary exhibition of rage.” Donnelly warned the panel of the “HIV positivity,” “forcible sodomy,” and “exotic forms of sexual expression” that would no doubt flourish in an outed military.

She didn’t stop there. The “sexualized atmosphere” would, she argued, have a “devastating” effect on “people who do have religious convictions.” She repeatedly invoked Cynthia Yost, a woman allegedly assaulted by lesbians…in 1974. It was a jaw-dropping display, Milbank writes, which seemed, if anything, to unite Congress against Donnelly. Representatives variously called the rant insulting, shocking, scurrilous, and “just bonkers.”

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Center for Military Readiness President Elaine Donnelly, right, looks on as retired Marine SSgt. Eric Alva, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

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Rep. Patrick Murphy questions Elaine Donnelly on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. (hrcmedia)

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Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked