Today’s injunction against enforcement of the failed ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy’ means that for the first time in seventeen years, patriotic men and women will not get fired by the military for who they are, and forces deployed to war zones overseas will not be deprived of capable, battle tested soldiers who refuse to lie. That said, this injunction is but a temporary fix, and it is our hope that the Justice Department will not appeal this decision, and the Senate will finally abide the wishes of three quarters of the American people by eliminating this policy once and for all. Our thanks to the Log Cabin Republicans and the many courageous soldiers who have shared their stories for making today’s outcome possible.
Ultimately, there are no second-class soldiers and there are no second-class Americans. Ensuring our laws match these values is not just a matter of national security or right and wrong. For the young people who struggle daily with who they are in the face of institutionalized homophobia, it sends a message that can literally be the difference between life and death.
Rick Jacobs,
Founder of Courage Campaign
