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LAMBDA LEGAL

 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."

HRC

“The Commander in Chief sent a clear message tonight that in a time of war, what matters is that our men and women get the job done – not whether they’re gay or straight,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Our ‘Voices of Honor’ campaign will bring about much needed action to end this law that the vast majority of Americans oppose.”

FREEDOM TO MARRY - Evan Wolfson

"President Obama’s pledge to end discrimination against gay people serving in the military, repeated in tonight’s State of the Union, is an important show of support for gay and lesbian Americans as well as a boost to our national security.  Unfortunately, the President failed to address the government's discrimination against same-sex couples in his speech.  The President spoke about the concerns of Americans across the country, from unemployment to access to good schools and adequate healthcare.  Millions of gay and lesbian Americans share these same concerns and struggles, but also bear the extra burden of exclusion from marriage and the denial of legal protection in the workplace and at home.  Particularly in a time of immense economic challenges, government should not put obstacles in the path of any committed couple seeking to take care of their loved ones.  Freedom to Marry calls on the President to keep his promises and ensure the stability and security of all American families by working with Congress to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would end the government's policy of singling out married same-sex couples for discriminatory treatment under federal law.  We also urge the President to keep his repeated promises to work with Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity."

LT. Dan Choi

"Last night, the President repeated his campaign commitment to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as part of his State of the Union address. While the President promised that DADT would come to an end "this year," he did not provide specifics -- and the White House still has not released a plan to kill it. That's unacceptable."

ACLU

"In an historic first, the nation finally has a commander in chief who is calling for all men and women serving our country in uniform to be treated fairly and with dignity. It is gratifying to hear President Obama call for the repeal of the un-American and discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. For the better part of two decades, lesbian and gay Americans have been denied the right to live their lives openly as they serve in their country's military. This policy is unacceptable in a country where we value the equal treatment of all Americans. A soldier's sexual orientation should never outweigh his or her record and performance. Congress must now act swiftly to repeal this shameful policy."

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