DADT is no more

Today the blatantly discriminatory law known as Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) that kept gay and lesbian military personnel from serving openly in their ranks is officially repealed.

The law had been signed into law by President Clinton when he attempted to legally allow gays and lesbians to serve and the Republicans successfully fought him back and passed this vicious legislation with veto proof majorities.

President Obama was finally able to repeal the law at the end of last year, and starting today gays and lesbians can no longer be rejected from enrolling or ejected once discovered, and can live their lives as openly as their straight counterparts have always been able to do.

A great day that will surely help the gay civil rights movement move forward.

Here are President Obama’s remarks from Towleroad:

Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed.  As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love.  As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans.  Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens.  Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans.  Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

Around 14,000 people have been discharged from the military because of DADT.  Their careers ruined, together with their lives.