OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Celebrating the End of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 22, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the end of the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, and to celebrate that qualified men and women who have the desire to serve their country can no longer be denied simply because of sexual orientation.

* Don't Ask, Don't Tell limited the ability of our armed forces to recruit and retain talented Americans. Hundreds of men and women with critical abilities, including language skills, have been discharged under this policy.

* Meanwhile, many of our closest allies have demonstrated that allowing open service does not harm unit cohesion or military performance.

* Most importantly, Don't Ask, Don't Tell institutionalized discrimination in our military. It was a policy that forced men and women to lie about their identity in order to serve their country.

* As of this week, no one is prohibited from serving the country they love because of whom they love.


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