Lambda Legal Responds to President Obama's Remarks on "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in State of the Union Address

(New York, January 27, 2010) — In response to President Obama's remarks expressing his intention to end the military's discriminatory policy on gay service members known as "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT), Lambda Legal released the following statement from Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director:

"We have heard promises before about ending 'Don’t Ask, Don't Tell' and we welcome the President's statement tonight that the time has finally come to fulfill that promise. Very little has changed since Lambda Legal represented Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer 18 years ago after she was discharged for being a lesbian. Changing this discriminatory policy is long overdue.

"The military is our nation's largest employer and this government sanctioned discrimination must end. We will continue to advocate for the repeal of DADT so that gay and lesbian services members and their families can serve openly and with the same support afforded to other military families."

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Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext.266; Email: lhardaway@lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.