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White House Aides to Talk DADT with Gay Rights Advocates

White House officials will sit down with gay rights activists Tuesday afternoon to map out a plan for repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy during the November lame-duck session.

“The White House is meeting with several interested parties to discuss the legislative repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ The meeting will concern the work that remains to be done to ensure Congressional action on this issue this year,” a White House aide said.

A source familiar with the meeting, which is set for 4:30 p.m., said attendees will include White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Office of Public Engagement Director Tina Tchen and legislative affairs director Phil Schiliro. Activists with the Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Democrats, the Center for American Progress, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Log Cabin Republicans, who are at the center of a court case aimed at repealing the policy, will also attend.

A repeal of DADT, which bars openly gay service members, is included in the defense authorization bill up for a Senate vote when lawmakers return after the election. The House passed the repeal last month.

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