[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6282-H6283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE OFFICIAL REPEAL OF ``DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL''

  (Mr. HONDA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the historic, 
official repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Today, nearly two decades 
after its enactment, our lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers can 
finally serve and defend the country they love without the fear of 
being discharged. Never

[[Page H6283]]

again will members of our military be forced to serve in the shadows, 
to lie about their identities, or to be afraid to talk about the people 
they love.
  Let us remember the 14,000 loyal servicemembers who were discharged 
under this discriminatory policy over the years; for now they can serve 
alongside their military friends and family with dignity and honor. Let 
us also remember those individuals who served in silence and sacrificed 
their lives so that we, as Americans, could live freely.
  As vice-chair of the LGBT Caucus in Congress, I see the repeal of 
Don't Ask, Don't Tell as another step towards ensuring that all 
citizens, both inside and outside of the military, are never subject to 
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Today signifies a 
crucial milestone in history and is a victory, not just for the LGBTQ 
community, but for America as a whole.

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