The first step in repealing the 1993 Clinton presidency compromise on gays in the military, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” is at last on its way out.
Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives voted 234 to 194 to allow the repeal of the law, which bans out gays and lesbians in the military.
Officially: House Vote 317 – Allows Repeal of Ban on Gays in Military (New York Times article today).
Christi had the pleasure of sitting at Grethe Cammermeyer’s table at President Bill Clinton’s 1992 inauguration. For Christi, it was Grethe Cammermeyer who brought to light the serious issues of gays in the military and what that really means on a day-to-day basis.
It was a sad day when the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” compromise was forced in to law. But since then, Americans’ perceptions of gays and lesbians seem to have changed for the better. We’re not the same pariahs we were then.
To that we salute the House members who voted to repeal this act.
Victory – Obama Signs Repeal
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010For members of the military who have, in essence, remained in the closet for the last decade plus, today is a new day. President Barack Obama signed the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” repeal. No longer will openly gay men and lesbians be barred from serving in the U.S. military.
There will no separate showers or other facilities. As we listened to the news this morning, the notion of separate showers called up one image in particular, that of desegregation of the U.S. military in 1948. There will be no benefits for partners of gays and lesbians–and gay marriages will not be acknowledged under this repeal. Still, it’s a start.
Kudos to the U.S. Congress and President Obama for moving the military forward into the 21st century.
Tags:Barack Obama, Don't Ask Don't Tell, gays in the military
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