Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement on the day the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, which prevented openly gay members of the military from serving their country, came to an official close.  The repeal, which passed Congress with Rep. Engel’s vote and was signed into law by President Obama in December 2010, is final.

“Finally, the bravery of gay men and women will no longer be questioned, and no longer will they have to hide in the shadows for fear of receiving a dishonorable discharge.  No longer will a service member be reprimanded for their sexual orientation.  As the 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator Barry Goldwater, said, ‘You can be gay and still shoot straight.’  Finally, the ability to shoot straight will be the only thing that matters. 

“I am proud to have played a part in ending this discrimination against our brave men and women who have volunteered to serve our country in our armed forces.  It is a new day for our military, one free from discrimination.  Now it is time to take the fight against discrimination to the Defense of Marriage Act.  Same-sex couples, should have the same rights as every other family in the nation.   This is the next step for bringing equality in our country to all of our citizens, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to end this unconstitutional and punitive law.

“Bravery and dedication are not exclusively the property of heterosexuals, nor is good citizenship.  We cannot right the wrongs of the past, but we can certainly prevent more from occurring.”

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