Press Release
July 22, 2011
Congresswoman Susan Davis Statement on the Official End to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) released the following statement on the expectation of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to certify the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. As Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Davis played a key role in enacting the legislation that lifted the ban on gays and lesbian serving openly. She held the first congressional hearing on the policy 15 years after its inception and held many subsequent hearings. She was an original cosponsor of the bill to repeal the policy and attended the White House signing ceremony last year.
“This is a great step forward for civil rights and equality. No longer will a segment of our society be excluded from serving and protecting the country they love. No longer will gay and lesbians in uniform have to live a lie and fear that their careers could suddenly come to end.
“When I attended Pride last weekend, it was exciting to see the celebration of the end of this discriminatory policy.”
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