Joe Solmonese: We Are Going To Bring Down DADT This Year

Pam Spaulding reports from Saturday's HRC gala in Raleigh.

HRCs' President Joe Solmonese delivered some news at the HRC Carolinas Gala on Saturday night. I was there reporting for the Blend as he made these emphatic statements to the members of the LGBT community and allies from North and South Carolina in attendance at the Raleigh Convention Center about what was going to be accomplished this year (quoting from my video below):

1. "We are going to eliminate the tax that you pay on domestic partner benefits. We're going to get rid of that this year at long last."
2. "We are going to extend domestic partnerships to federal employees."
3. "We are going to get people living with HIV/AIDS treatment much earlier if they are on public assistance."
4. "And finally, finally this year we are going to bring down the discriminatory policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'...once and for all."

RELATED: Bloggers and insiders are buzzing about the HRC's firing of communications director Brad Luna. The HRC says his position was "eliminated." Fallout for the fashion award flap? Or for Dan Choi's hijacking of their Bravo episode? Tipsters are hinting that it's something much bigger, but nobody's talking yet. Stand by.