[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13948]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

  (Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to thank my 
colleagues in the LGBT Equality Caucus, Leader Pelosi, Congresswoman 
Baldwin, Congressman Frank, everyone today as we celebrate the end of a 
discriminatory era against gay and lesbian servicemembers in America 
with the official repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
  For too long, this failed policy unfairly denied fundamental human 
rights to highly qualified individuals who wish to serve our country. 
As a vice-chair of the congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I am pleased 
that the tireless work of our congressional colleagues, the 
administration, and the LGBT community resulted in the end of Don't 
Ask, Don't Tell.
  Although this is a remarkable step forward, we still have a long way 
to go to attain full equality. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
transgendered people continue to be targets of discrimination in our 
policies, our laws, and our society. I have always said that 
discrimination is un-American, and we as a Nation must continue to 
fight for policies that bring us closer to fulfilling the principles we 
espouse.
  I encourage all of us to stay committed to ensuring that sexual 
orientation and gender identity are no longer a cause for inequality.

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