The United States Senate this afternoon at 3 PM voted by a vote of 65 to 31 to end discrimination against gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service members by repealing the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, setting up the end of the US military policy of discrimination against LGB American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Air Force and Coast Guard personnel.  American Veterans for Equal Rights applauds President Barack Obama for his dedicated leadership and his principled stand against discrimination.

AVER further congratulates the courageous and patriotic members of both parties in Congress who voted to end discrimination by the United States military.  Never again will any member of the US military die on the battlefield because the medic or corpsmen who could have saved their lives was kicked out of the military for loving the wrong person.  Americans have shown once again that they are not willing to abandon the dream of one great, united society composed of many diverse populations.

On behalf of all veterans and service members, AVER sincerely thanks all the many individuals and organizations, most of which may never be known, who have worked tirelessly and sacrificed greatly through nearly a century to make the guardians of our nation’s freedom the representatives of the liberty entrusted to them.  The forward march of liberty’s promise has not this day been halted.

Danny Ingram, National President
American Veterans for Equal Rights