Barbara Lee Statement on the End of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

For Immediate Release

 

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Kristal DeKleer, (202) 225-4783

  

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement on the official repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a policy that prevented openly gay and lesbian service members from serving in the military:

 

"Today, we celebrate the end of a discriminatory era against gay and lesbian service members in America with the official repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. For too long, this failed policy unfairly denied fundamental civil liberties to highly qualified individuals who wished to serve our country. As a Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality caucus, I am pleased that the tireless work of my Congressional colleagues, the Administration, and the LGBT community resulted in the end of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

 

“Although this is a remarkable step forward, we still have a long way to go to attain full equality for LGBT people. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people continue to be targets of discrimination in our policies, our laws, and our society.

 

“I have always said that discrimination is un-American and we, as a nation, must continue to fight for policies that bring us closer to fulfilling the principles we espouse. I encourage my constituents, my colleagues and our country to stay committed to ensuring that sexual orientation and gender-identity are no longer a cause for inequality."

 

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a Vice-Chair and founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. She is proud to stand with a bipartisan caucus that is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.

 

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Follow Barbara Lee on Twitter@RepBarbaraLee