The following is a statement from Winnie Stachelberg, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at the Center for American Progress, on today’s signing into law of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010:
"History was made when President Barack Obama signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 into law today. Very soon, the thousands of brave and patriotic gay men and women serving in the U.S. military will be able to serve openly and with integrity and honesty.
We thank President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen for their leadership on this issue, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) for championing repeal legislation in Congress.
With the bill signing today, gay Americans made a big step toward achieving full equality in the United States, our military was made stronger, and our nation became a more perfect union."
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