President Obama signs historic ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal bill

President Barack Obama today signed “Don’t Act, Don’t Tell” repeal legislation to create a path for lesbian, gay and bisexual service members to serve openly in the military. The Senate passed the measure on Dec. 18. The Task Force, which was present at today’s historic bill signing ceremony at the Interior Department, has been working in coalition with other groups advocating for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey stated:

We celebrate this historic day, when our country has honored the principles of fairness and justice it holds so dearly. This is a tremendous victory. We thank all those who fought for and supported an end to the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy — they truly are on the right side of history. Seventeen years of witch hunts under this policy have cost thousands of exemplary service members their careers, once again proving there are very personal and costly consequences of discrimination. This cannot end fast enough. Our entire country benefits when fairness prevails, when qualified and patriotic service members no longer have to fear being targeted by their own government, when courageous men and women are able to serve openly and honestly. We thank President Obama for signing this critical legislation and now call upon him as commander in chief, and his top military leaders, to swiftly lead us through to full implementation.