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The Wright Perspective℠
Social Commentary from the C-Suite to Main Street℠
A Blog by Gary Wright II
DADT Repeal officially takes effect on September 20, 2011
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
On September 20, 2011, the silence will finally end for the 65,000 gay and lesbians currently serving under the military policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. This afternoon Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen certified that our military is ready to repeal the policy. The repeal will officially take place in 60 days.
This certification is an important milestone in our history of civil rights, but the job is still not complete. We still must make whole and restore honor to the service of the 14,000 people who were victims of this unjust and discriminatory policy.
This battle for equality took 17 years of hard work by human rights activists and thousands of other caring Americans. Thank you to every single person who has organized rallies, signed petitions, donated time and financial support, and contacted Congress to demand a repeal of the DADT policy.
Thank you President Obama for keeping your promise. Thank you to: Admiral Mullens, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Aubrey Sarvis and the good folks at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN.org) for defending all of our servicemembers, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Lady Gaga for helping raise awareness, and thank you to all of the organizations and individuals who supported repeal.
Thank you to all of the brave men and women who are serving our country. They are true professionals and the repeal of DADT will immediately make our military and our nation stronger through diversity, honor, and respect among ALL of our citizens.
Thank you to my family, friends, and colleagues who have always stood by my side and have given me their unwavering support through the legal battle that lasted nearly two decades.
Thank you all!
-- Gary Wright II