Lambda Legal Applauds Senate Vote to End “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

(New York, December 18, 2010) — In response to today’s Senate vote that sets the stage for an end to the U.S. military’s 17-year-old “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly, Lambda Legal issued the following statement from Executive Director Kevin Cathcart:

“Today our country lived up to the values that lesbian, gay and bisexual servicemembers swore to defend. These members of America’s armed forces have been a model of dignity and courage as they faced not only the dangers of military action, but also the unfair and discriminatory conduct of their own government. Today, the end of that era of discrimination is finally in sight.”

“It is time for our country to move forward. An overwhelming majority of the American public supports letting lesbian and gay troops serve openly and with honor. The recent survey of military personnel and their families shows an overwhelming majority -- 90 percent -- are fine serving alongside a gay or lesbian servicemember. Our military and the security of our country will be strengthened by finally ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“This has been a heroic political battle by LGBT advocates who refused to give up. We congratulate the many lesbian and gay servicemembers who risked or sacrificed their careers to fight for justice; the many LGBT advocacy groups and allies who fought with them; and the members of Congress who voted for justice.”

Lambda Legal began its fight against discrimination in the military in 1975. Over the years Lambda Legal has been proud to represent many members of the military including Margarethe Cammermeyer, Joseph Steffan, Dusty Pruitt and Copy Berg. This year, Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief, in a challenge brought by Log Cabin Republicans, urging the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to leave in place pending appeal an injunction against enforcement of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, saying that its impact extends far beyond those in uniform, to include lesbian, gay and bisexual adults and youth, who must contend with the consequences of the discriminatory messages perpetuated by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The case is Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America.

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