By William Gibson

Sept. 20, 2011

"Today my heart rejoices not only for the gay and lesbian Americans already serving in our armed forces, but also for every young man and woman who dreams about becoming a service member dedicated to keeping America safe from harm," South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on Tuesday.

She, along with President Obama, is celebrating the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, a carry-over from the Bill Clinton era that allowed gays and lesbians to serve if they kept quiet.

“For too long, `don't ask, don't tell’ has forced Americans to deny who they are in order to serve their country,” said Wasserman Schultz of Weston, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. “At long last, that will no longer be the case.”

Wasserman Schultz and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Democrat from Miramar, were among the most vocal critics of the policy, which they saw as a form of discrimination. They represent South Florida, a region with a large gay population.

’I share this profound moment with the more than 14,000 service members discharged under this misguided and unjust policy," Hastings said on Tuesday. "Truth has vindicated their honor, and we will see to it that their records and benefits reflect the full measure of their service."

Clinton created the policy as a kind of compromise, though it satisfied nobody.

Obama said he wanted those who were discharged under the 1993 law to know that the nation values their service.