Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, today's Special Order hour marks the 10- year anniversary of the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. This legislation represented the end of an era, the close of a dark chapter in our military history in which LGBTQ members of the Armed Forces were forced to hide who they were under the threat of investigation and discharge. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer servicemembers of that era paid a heavy cost to serve their country, one that required them to uphold an uncompromising oath of integrity while at the same time publicly denying a fundamental aspect of their lives. It is thanks to their resilience, their strength, and their activism that repeal was ever achieved, and we honor those veterans today.
I believe it is important to hear from the veterans themselves from those who served and survived Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is my pleasure this evening to welcome a number of my colleagues to the floor to read the testimony of five individuals who served under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
It is my distinct privilege to start with the testimony of Lindsay Church, a Navy veteran who served from 2008 to 2012. Lindsay is a third-generation sailor and the sixth in their family to serve in the military. They are a cofounder and executive director of the veteran serving organization Minority Veterans of America and have nearly a decade of experience in veterans advocacy. And this is Lindsay's story:
``In 2008, I joined the Navy where I would serve for 4 years before being medically retired. I served all but 3 months of my time under the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. I could tell you a lot of stories that range from bullying and reprimand for my nonbinary appearance, failed relationships due to the fact that I had to hide them at every turn, and exploitation by other servicemembers threatening to tell my secret if I didn't continue to date them. Even as I spent months recovering from life-changing injuries as a result of my service, I was made to suffer alone because my relationships were legally prohibited.
``As I have unpacked my service as a veteran, I look back at the intense scars that Don't Ask, Don't Tell inflicted on my life. In conversations with other Don't Ask, Don't Tell survivors, I have come to realize that serving under this policy has left a generation of queer servicemembers with intense trauma and a fracture of our identities. For veterans like myself, we were often faced with a choice upon leaving the military and coming to the veteran community: Be a veteran or be queer because you can't be both here.
``It has taken me nearly a decade since leaving the service to find healing and engage in healthy relationships. I couldn't speak out against this policy when I was in uniform, so it is imperative for me today to remind this body that policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell cause widespread trauma and harm to generations of servicemembers who fought for our country but were forced to remain voiceless. Moral injury will follow with each of us for the rest of our lives.
``My story of service was tarnished by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Every day I carried a lie while attempting to live up to the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am deeply proud of the years of my life I gave to serving my country, and that will never change. The scars I carry as a result of that service will also never change. Though they may fade, they will never be forgotten.''
So I would like to extend my deep thanks to Lindsay, both for their service and the courage to share their story.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cicilline for that testimony that he read on behalf of John Hegwood, former Army servicemember.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) to share the story of Air Force veteran Landon Marchant.
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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Pappas for sharing the testimony of Landon Marchant.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton), a Congressman who himself is a Marine veteran, to share the story of Air Force veteran Hanna Tripp.
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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I express my gratitude to the gentleman from Massachusetts for sharing Hanna Tripp's story. She truly is and was a courageous member of our Armed Forces, and it was very moving testimony. I read it in advance and nearly teared up.
I thank the Member for being here today to share with the rest of the country who Hanna is. I thank all the Members for sharing the stories of our LGBTQ members.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger), my colleague, to share the story of Army veteran Stephanie Merlo.
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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for sharing the very moving story of Stephanie Merlo, for expressing her humanity on the floor today. The Representative exemplifies, to me, the best of my Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, and the values we stand up for, which is to include more people in ``we the people.''
Madam Speaker, this concludes our Special Order hour. I thank my colleagues for their participation and each of the veterans who shared their stories and, in particular, every veteran and servicemember who gave their service to our country in the face of overwhelming prejudice.
We recognize today as the 10th anniversary of an important first step toward making the Armed Forces more inclusive and accepting, a commitment that I and all my colleagues here today will continue to carry forward.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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