This is another victory for the LGBT community, on the road to equality, as time is running out on the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in the U.S. Military.

“Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

The 1993 law that disqualified men and women who are gay to serve openly in the military “undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality,”
President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Soon, all men and women in service will be able to serve their country with the pride that they for too long were denied because they had to conceal their sexual preference, Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office explained. “The demise of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ demonstrates that we should not write discrimination into our laws. Now is the time for Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”

Even though this repeal is a big step forward, there are still laws that discriminate against LGBT Americans and their families.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense the policy was reviewed and accredited by Defense Secretary: Leon Panetta, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral: Michael Mullen, and President Barack Obama. Now those who wish to enlist and join the armed forces will no longer need to lie about their sexual orientation in order to do so.

“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been a discriminatory distraction for far too long, and we welcome its repeal once and for all,” said James D. Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBT Project.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all September 20, 2011.

“Every American can be proud that our extraordinary troops and their families, like earlier generations that have adapted to other changes, will only grow stronger and remain the best fighting force in the world,” Obama said, “And a reflection of the values of justice and equality that the define us as Americans.”

Even with this new regulation, work must still be done to ensure it is followed and men and women who are openly gay, bisexual, lesbian or Transgender will not be subjected to illegal discrimination.

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About the author

Nicole Williams