With a 63-33 vote on Saturday to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the Senate, this is a historic moment in the history of our nation.  Our government and military will finally do away with this bigoted and outdated policy and catch up to the modern age and repeal DADT.  With this repeal, our gay men and women serving in the armed forces will be accepted by the military and able to openly acknowledge their sexual orientation without the fear of being fired.  Once the repeal is voted on it will move on to President Obama’s desk for signing. 

In a statement the President said:

“The Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend.”

And echoing what I believe to be the overall feeling and attitude towards the policy felt by most of the modern generation and certainly anyone who has to go into combat Sen. Ron Wyden had this to say:

“I don’t care who you love, if you love this country enough to risk your life for it, you shouldn’t have to hide who you are. You ought to be able to serve,”

The discrimination of someone based on their sexual orientation has long been viewed as a bigoted point of view and when it is done in a professional setting such as the work place it is against the law.  Why has it taken our government and military so long to catch up to the standard views and practices of the rest of the country?  So far behind the times, morally, and nationally wrong was this policy that it is almost laughable that it is still in place and that it is such a huge issue.  Past generations attitudes and the stigmata of sexual orientation is something that is generally not felt by most people these days.  In personal life another persons sexuality does not and should not have an effect on their capability to perform a job.  Never mind when it comes to fighting to defend our country.  The only thing that needs to be considered when joining the military and defending our nation is your ability and willingness to fight.  Being gay or straight makes little difference once you are in combat and you are relying on the man or woman next to you. 

The DADT policy was an unpatriotic one and goes against all this country is supposed to stand for “All Men Are Created Equal”.  I am proud of this step forward.

Please read below for President Obama’s full remarks on the issue.

  President Obama:

“Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

“I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.”