US Rep. Chris Pappas, the openly gay Congressman from New Hampshire, is co-leading a resolution to recognize the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a policy that forced LGBQ servicemembers to conceal their sexual orientation to serve in the military,” explains a Sept. 20 Congressional Press release. “Under this policy, any member of the Armed Forces that was identified or identified themselves as non-heterosexual, either through actions or words, was subject to investigation and discharge.”
While the repeal, signed by President Obama in 2010, finally “allowed cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer individuals to serve openly without fear of discharge, transgender service-members were still barred from service until 2016,” the press release notes.
“The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ a decade ago was a critical step forward to ensure equality for all members of our Armed Forces. But there is still more we must do to ensure that our Armed Forces are inclusive, accepting places for LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans,” said Pappas in the press release.
“Discriminatory policies like DADT have caused lasting harm, and a double standard continues to persist for LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans who suffered from government-sponsored discriminatory policies simply because of who they are,” said Pappas.
“As we commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the repeal of DADT and celebrate the freedom of LGBTQ+ service-members to serve openly following its repeal, we must rededicate ourselves to righting these wrongs and reaffirm our commitment to honoring the service of all those who put their lives on the line for our country, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Pappas is co-leading the resolution to recognize the repeal with with fellow Congressmen Mark Takano of California and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin.
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