As of midnight, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule that prevented openly gay members from serving in the military is gone. The repeal has been an issue of debate for years and even more so in recent months, but military leaders have asserted that the new policy will have no negative impact on “military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruiting and retention.” As a testament to that, military branches have not been making a big deal out of the repeal. The Army issued a simple statement reminding its soldiers to treat each other fairly.
The repeal means far more to those who have had to hide their identities, like Airman Josh Seefried. For years, he went under the pseudonym J.D. Smith in order to push for a repeal of DADT. Now he is at liberty to make his identity public.
President Obama made the repeal official by issuing the following statement:
“Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed. As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.
I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.
For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.”
