[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 162 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4551-H4554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from California
(Mr. Takano) for 30 minutes.
General Leave
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, today's Special Order hour marks the 10-
year anniversary of the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal
Act of 2010. This legislation represented the end of an era, the close
of a dark chapter in our military history in which LGBTQ members of the
Armed Forces were forced to hide who they were under the threat of
investigation and discharge. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
queer servicemembers of that era paid a heavy cost to serve their
country, one that required them to uphold an uncompromising oath of
integrity while at the same time publicly denying a fundamental aspect
of their lives. It is thanks to their resilience, their strength, and
their activism that repeal was ever achieved, and we honor those
veterans today.
I believe it is important to hear from the veterans themselves from
those who served and survived Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It is my pleasure
this evening to welcome a number of my colleagues to the floor to read
the testimony of five individuals who served under Don't Ask, Don't
Tell.
It is my distinct privilege to start with the testimony of Lindsay
Church, a Navy veteran who served from 2008 to 2012. Lindsay is a
third-generation sailor and the sixth in their family to serve in the
military. They are a cofounder and executive director of the veteran
serving organization Minority Veterans of America and have nearly a
decade of experience in veterans advocacy. And this is Lindsay's story:
[[Page H4552]]
``In 2008, I joined the Navy where I would serve for 4 years before
being medically retired. I served all but 3 months of my time under the
military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. I could tell
you a lot of stories that range from bullying and reprimand for
my nonbinary appearance, failed relationships due to the fact that I
had to hide them at every turn, and exploitation by other
servicemembers threatening to tell my secret if I didn't continue to
date them. Even as I spent months recovering from life-changing
injuries as a result of my service, I was made to suffer alone because
my relationships were legally prohibited.
``As I have unpacked my service as a veteran, I look back at the
intense scars that Don't Ask, Don't Tell inflicted on my life. In
conversations with other Don't Ask, Don't Tell survivors, I have come
to realize that serving under this policy has left a generation of
queer servicemembers with intense trauma and a fracture of our
identities. For veterans like myself, we were often faced with a choice
upon leaving the military and coming to the veteran community: Be a
veteran or be queer because you can't be both here.
``It has taken me nearly a decade since leaving the service to find
healing and engage in healthy relationships. I couldn't speak out
against this policy when I was in uniform, so it is imperative for me
today to remind this body that policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell
cause widespread trauma and harm to generations of servicemembers who
fought for our country but were forced to remain voiceless. Moral
injury will follow with each of us for the rest of our lives.
``My story of service was tarnished by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Every
day I carried a lie while attempting to live up to the Navy's core
values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am deeply proud of the
years of my life I gave to serving my country, and that will never
change. The scars I carry as a result of that service will also never
change. Though they may fade, they will never be forgotten.''
So I would like to extend my deep thanks to Lindsay, both for their
service and the courage to share their story.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr.
Cicilline), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, it is a great honor to be part of this Special Order
hour, and I thank Chairman Takano, who is not only a leader in the
Equality Caucus but also chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for
organizing our Special Order hour.
I know we are joined by several other members of our caucus,
including one of our new members, an extraordinary gentleman from New
Hampshire, Chris Pappas, who we will hear from in just a moment.
As chair of the LGBTQ-Plus Equality Caucus. I am very proud to be
here tonight to stand alongside my colleagues as we mark this very
important anniversary.
Ten years ago, a, historic wrong was corrected when Don't Ask, Don't
Tell was repealed. I wish I could say it is hard to remember when
members of the LGBTQ community had to push for their right to serve our
country openly. But we continue to struggle for full equality in our
military and in many other areas of our lives.
A few years ago, President Trump imposed a ban on transgender people
serving their country in the military. Thankfully, President Biden
reversed that move and just in the past days his administration has
taken additional steps to ensure equal access to services for those
unfairly discharged.
Thousands of members of the LGBTQ community have served and continue
to serve in our Nation's military, and we are grateful for their
service. We understand that military service is inherently stressful
and dangerous, and those who serve are heroes for putting themselves in
harm's way to protect us all.
Now imagine conducting that service knowing that your very identity
must be kept hidden at the risk of being thrown out with a dishonorable
discharge. And we know that LGBTQ servicemembers had more to fear than
separation. They had to face discrimination and potentially violence
within their ranks should their identity be known.
The problems facing LGBTQ servicemembers did not vanish immediately
upon repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I am proud of my colleagues who
continue to push to create a level playing field for those discharged
under this discriminatory policy. I particularly want to acknowledge
Congressman Takano and Congressman Pocan. But there is still more work
to be done, and the LGBTQ-Plus Equality Caucus is committed to
continuing this fight alongside those who have served.
Today, as Chairman Takano mentioned, my colleagues and I will read
some firsthand accounts from people discharged under Don't Ask, Don't
Tell so the American people can really understand the story of their
lives.
My story is from John Hegwood, who served in the Army and identifies
as a gay, bi-racial cisgender man.
He writes: ``I joined the military knowing, at least intellectually,
that I couldn't be my authentic self. However, it would take several
years of introspection to realize what impact this would have on my
life. I told myself it would be easy to navigate as a gay man since I
grew up in the very rural and antigay western part of Texas. I thought
this would be a proverbial `walk in the park.'
``When I first heard that Don't Ask, Don't Tell would be repealed, I
was incredulous and nearly in tears. It was almost unimaginable that
this would occur within my lifetime. My then-partner and I were both
military and couldn't even acknowledge our relationship in the
workplace. The darker side of this otherwise heartening news is that
the coming months until it was fully repealed would feel like an even
more hostile environment.
``With Don't Ask, Don't Tell as the status quo for over a decade, I
had the privilege of mostly flying under the radar of most of my
colleagues who deemed LGBTQ soldiers as a benign part of the fighting
force. Now with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell at the forefront of
the military's collective consciousness, it all but painted a target on
my back as I became the focus of everyone's ire if they disagreed with
the repeal that was looming on the horizon.
``I now carry with me a sense of resentment towards the military
because of the harassment, hazing, bullying, and discrimination I
encountered while serving from those that I was supposed to trust my
life with. I had to choose between serving my country and my
relationship.
``Now, we might have made some progress as a society. Last month I
celebrated 10 wonderful years with that same man I couldn't even
acknowledge in the workplace 10 years ago. He is now my husband, and
the military that would have discharged him a decade ago now honors our
marriage and was very accommodating in granting a compassionate
reassignment of duty location when I was diagnosed with stage III non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma.
``This doesn't mean that homophobia simply disappeared, or that
everyone suddenly had no issues with us simply existing as we are. To
this day it is not entirely safe for us to hold hands in public, and
members of the LGBTQ community are still facing discrimination in our
Armed Forces and in society as a whole.''
Madam Speaker, those words powerfully written are really a call to
action as we celebrate 10 years of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
to recognize we have much more work to do to ensure that all members of
the LGBTQ community can live full lives free from discrimination of any
kind.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cicilline for that
testimony that he read on behalf of John Hegwood, former Army
servicemember.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr.
Pappas) to share the story of Air Force veteran Landon Marchant.
Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for
his leadership on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and for his
longstanding commitment to fighting for those who have served all of
us.
So today does mark the 10th anniversary of the end of Don't Ask,
Don't Tell. It was a deeply flawed, deeply prejudiced policy of our
government that prohibited LGBTQ individuals
[[Page H4553]]
from serving openly in the Armed Forces.
{time} 2030
The policy told LGBTQ individuals that they were not welcome to serve
their country, that their government viewed them as second-class
citizens.
It also forced many who swore an oath to give everything for their
country, up to and including their lives, to hide who they were and to
live in secret or to face the loss of a job, a life's calling,
financial security, health, and happiness.
Americans who were ready, willing, and eager to serve their country
were forced to leave the armed services for good, many receiving less-
than-honorable discharges. It is estimated that over 13,000
servicemembers were discharged in the 17 years that Don't Ask, Don't
Tell was enforced.
A decade after its repeal, Don't Ask, Don't Tell still casts a long,
dark, and disgraceful shadow and haunts those who were targeted. We
have much more work to do to correct this tremendous injustice endured
by those who served and were discharged during Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
That is why I was proud to introduce the Securing the Rights our
Veterans Earned Act, or SERVE Act, to help correct these injustices and
guaranteeing VA benefits for LGBTQ-plus veterans forced out of service
for being themselves. This includes veterans who were discharged under
Don't Ask, Don't Tell, those issued so-called blue discharges during
World War II, as well as those forced out under the Trump's
administration discriminatory policy on transgender servicemembers.
I want to highlight one story of a courageous veteran, Landon
Marchant. Landon Marchant is a transgender veteran of the Air Force who
enlisted to serve their country and for the promise of a better life.
But after just 22 months, they were dishonorably discharged.
As Landon writes: ``The impact of Don't Ask, Don't Tell did not end
when I received my discharge paperwork, and it did not end when the ban
was finally repealed. It has impacted my post-military life. I was
discharged less than 2 months before reaching the 2-year minimum for
full GI Bill eligibility, and I have had to fight for my disability
benefits while having inconsistent employment.''
So it took nearly 10 years after their discharge to be awarded the VA
benefits that Landon had earned, and still, this fight continues.
Stories like Landon's are heartbreaking. I thank them for having the
courage to stand up and to speak out about this personal experience.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell isn't just about a policy on paper. It is about
living, breathing people, like Landon and thousands more who lived with
the stigma, the trauma, and the adverse effects.
I applaud the Department of Veterans Affairs for announcing that it
will work to correct injustices like Landon's. And I urge my colleagues
in this Chamber to support these efforts and others that will provide
all LGBTQ-plus servicemembers and veterans with the full measure of
equality, of care, and of respect that they have earned through their
service.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Pappas for sharing
the testimony of Landon Marchant.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Moulton), a Congressman who himself is a Marine veteran, to share the
story of Air Force veteran Hanna Tripp.
Mr. MOULTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for
yielding.
Hanna Tripp served in the Air Force from 2009 to 2013. Hanna is also
a Team Moulton alum, where she did extraordinary work for veterans in
Massachusetts' Sixth District. Today, as a senior policy adviser at
Minority Veterans of America, she continues to advocate for veterans
everywhere.
I am grateful to be here on this year's 10th anniversary of the
repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and I am honored to share Hanna's
story with you all.
This is her story, in her words: ``I graduated flight school at the
top of my class; flew 20 combat missions in Iraq; and later brought
back the remains of our fallen from Afghanistan.
``Objectively, I was a good airman. However, nothing that I did or
could do would supersede the fact that I was trans. In coming out, my
service to this country would have been made irrelevant simply by this
one aspect of who I was.
``So, in order to remain, I chose to bifurcate myself; to project a
facade of the person the military expected me to be. The catch-22 was
that while I heard members of my squadron talk about how `the gays'
would destroy our combat effectiveness, I was unable to demonstrate
that it didn't. This is the most enduring aspect of Don't Ask, Don't
Tell for me. It was not that people like me were banned. It is that we
were denied the opportunity to show our worth.
``Being trans in the Air Force was to live two versions of a lie: the
lie you showed to the world in denying this fundamental truth and the
lie that you told to yourself in doing so.
``There was also a feeling of betraying the community. How can I
expect change if I don't have the courage to be the change I want to
see? Why would those who had negative perceptions of `the gays' think
any differently if I was too cowardly to show them?
``With absolutely no hubris, I can say that my service to this
country was both valuable and needed. I enlisted in the middle of a war
to serve in a career field that guaranteed I would be sent to the front
lines. I recognize the contributions I made, but I can't say I am proud
of my service, as I failed to stand up for the very values that I was
fighting for.
``What is strange to me is that being trans is such a small part of
who I am, but because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, it has become a large
part of how my service is perceived.
``I still feel the legacy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell even to this day.
At the VA, I was denied emergency care for no other reason than I was
trans. Even now, I remain cut off from most of the people I served
with.
``When squadmates died from suicide, when Iraq fell to ISIS, and
while I battled my own experiences from the war, I did so alone. To
this day, people with no service in the military still freely challenge
the veracity of trans service.
``For people such as myself, Don't Ask, Don't Tell meant that our
accomplishments, our stories, and our service was hidden because we
were forced to remain hidden.''
That is powerful testimony from Hanna Tripp, an American hero.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Chair, I express my gratitude to the gentleman from
Massachusetts for sharing Hanna Tripp's story. She truly is and was a
courageous member of our Armed Forces, and it was very moving
testimony. I read it in advance and nearly teared up.
I thank the Member for being here today to share with the rest of the
country who Hanna is. I thank all the Members for sharing the stories
of our LGBTQ members.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms.
Spanberger), my colleague, to share the story of Army veteran Stephanie
Merlo.
Ms. SPANBERGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and celebrate the 10-year
anniversary of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
The repeal of this policy allowed thousands of American
servicemembers to live and serve without fear. Finally, brave Americans
are able to defend their country--our country--without worrying about
both the stigma and the punishment that they could face because of whom
they loved.
This decision, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, impacted many of
my constituents in Virginia's Seventh District, including Stephanie
Merlo, an Army veteran. With her permission, I am honored to share her
story tonight on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Stephanie begins by explaining that: ``A year after 9/11 happened, I
enlisted as an Active Duty servicemember in the Army. My mom cried; my
brother was proud; and I was honestly excited and scared both at the
same time.
``Was I scared of deploying? Sure, a little. Was I afraid of failing?
Of course.
``But my overall fear, that which consumed me beyond the point of
depression, was the fear of being `ousted' and discharged for being a
lesbian. In February of 2004, that fear showed its
[[Page H4554]]
face, and I was backed into a corner with deciding how I wanted to
proceed with my military career.''
How many servicemembers had this fear? How many brave soldiers served
honorably but with a secret, a secret that they knew could end their
career in the military, their career of service to our Nation?
And Stephanie had two secrets: her sexuality, a secret she kept to
protect her military career, and a secret regarding the sexual assault
she suffered while in the Army. You see, reporting it could also mean
revealing the secret of her sexuality.
Stephanie couldn't seek justice as a victim because seeking justice
would mean she could potentially bring an end to her career. She could
potentially be identified as gay in the military.
Stephanie was faced with this horrible choice, this horrible reality,
and all the while, her intention had been to bravely serve our Nation,
as so many brave LGBTQ Americans have.
I am proud to share this story because Stephanie reflects on the fact
that had Don't Ask, Don't Tell not been in place, perhaps a bit of her
story would have gone differently. She says that she never regretted
her decision to join the Army, but she still lives with the regret of
not allowing herself to live her truth.
Stephanie's story is emblematic of the struggles, the hardships, and,
most importantly, the triumphs of so many who have served in our Air
Force before the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
During that time, members of our military showed tremendous courage,
selflessness. They served our country with the utmost honor and valor,
and they put their service to country above even living their own
truth. But our military is stronger because of the repeal.
Our military has always been strong because of brave servicemembers,
brave soldiers like Stephanie, and our Nation is better because it has
been protected by people like Stephanie and so many of the stories we
have heard today. Our Nation is better protected because of the
protections afforded to those who put on the uniform.
Tonight, we have the opportunity to reflect on the importance of this
decision on the 10th anniversary of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't
Tell. For thousands of servicemembers and veterans like Stephanie, this
decision was long overdue.
May we always look to defend and support those who are willing to
serve our country, sacrifice on behalf of our fellow Americans, and
build a stronger Nation. I am grateful to every LGBTQ servicemember who
has served, past or present. I thank them for their sacrifice to our
country, and I am so grateful that as they serve today, they can do it
celebrating their full selves.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for
sharing the very moving story of Stephanie Merlo, for expressing her
humanity on the floor today. The Representative exemplifies, to me, the
best of my Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, and the values we stand up
for, which is to include more people in ``we the people.''
Madam Speaker, this concludes our Special Order hour. I thank my
colleagues for their participation and each of the veterans who shared
their stories and, in particular, every veteran and servicemember who
gave their service to our country in the face of overwhelming
prejudice.
We recognize today as the 10th anniversary of an important first step
toward making the Armed Forces more inclusive and accepting, a
commitment that I and all my colleagues here today will continue to
carry forward.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record a
statement of a constituent of mine, Staff Sergeant Ashley Carothers,
who is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Staff Sergeant
Carothers served from 2005 to 2013, and thus was subject to the ``Don't
Ask, Don't Tell'' policy for most of her service. I share her story as
we commemorate 10 years since the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell.''
Staff Sergeant Carothers was honorably discharged in 2013 and lives in
the District of Columbia.
This is what she has said about her experience:
During my Air Force career, I lived a double life. I was an
actress portraying a straight Airman on a stage called life
and behind closed doors a very broken human being that
desperately just wanted to be herself. I was a lesbian in
hiding. I was the Airman that did it all, scored as high as
they could on tests, worked to know the job better than the
rest and volunteer for everything that I could in hopes that
my busy life would never uncover the truth. Behind the
curtain I dated but relationships couldn't really completely
build because there was always a sense of getting caught
especially in a mil to mil relationship. Supervisors
constantly questioning you and trying to set you up with the
new guy in the shop and always prying into why you constantly
denied any male advances. The worst part was the feeling of
always being alone while fending off the wolves (male airmen)
and dodging sexual harassment and assault as a woman just
trying to serve her country. I guess it made me stronger in a
weird messed up way as I was able to provide support to
others later in my career, support I never had.
While serving in Germany I had the privilege to be one of
the chapter leaders for the then-underground organization
known as OutServe. Prior to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't
Tell we had a large number of LGBT service members all over
the European theater that relied on each other for support
and a sense of community. During this timeframe, multiple
individuals struggled further with their military leadership
as those opposed to the repeal expressed their views
verbally, leaving many with anxiety about the future. There
were many late-night phone calls trying to be the voice of
reason in moments of doubt and desperation when options to
turn to mental health professionals were nonexistent for fear
of discharge. Not being able to fight for them and speak
freely and openly to commands for support damaged individuals
beyond repair. If anyone went to speak to a mental health
professional and disclosed the fact that they identified as
gay, lesbian or bisexual, they would be on the chopping block
as they were serving under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. On top of
that, many served in career fields that they had to report
any visit to a mental health professional, further limiting
these individuals who desperately needed assistance. These
individuals had no one to turn to and suffered in silence.
Most even after the repeal couldn't come out as lesbian, gay
or bisexual for fear of mistreatment from their superiors.
Some suffered greatly by coming out to their commands, as
they had to work twice as hard to prove themselves and were
often overlooked for promotion and awards.
Balancing my own life struggles and the struggles of those
that looked to me for support was a pretty demanding time in
my career. My career and health did suffer, but I often think
about what life would have been like if I hadn't been able to
give so much or if the military would have just let humans be
humans by being their true authentic selves in the first
place. The constant jokes, ridicule and mistreatment from
superiors hasn't gone away. On this anniversary, I hope that
those in charge will finally take the right steps and change
the culture.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to share Staff Sergeant
Carothers' story and to remember the thousands like her who were harmed
by Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
____________________