On Saturday, history was made. By a vote of 65-31, the United States Senate passed legislation that will allow for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The vast majority of Americans recognized it was time for the failed and discriminatory law to be done away with. But take a look at what some opponents of repeal are saying:
– “We are now stuck with sexual deviants serving openly in the U.S. military…. If historians want a fixed marker pointing to the instant the United States sealed its own demise, they just found it.” – Bryan Fischer, American Family Association
– “The American military…has now been hijacked and turned into a tool for imposing on the country a radical social agenda.” -Tony Perkins, Family Research Council.
– “This action will be overturned in the next Congress.” – Matthew Staver, Freedom Federation
– “The repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ law is a disaster of historic proportions and it must be reinstated. My organization and others will to fight to make sure that happens.” – E. W. Jackson, Stand America PAC
Those are some pretty harsh words. What’s worse, these are people who will have the ear of leaders as a hostile new Congress prepares to take power. We fought so hard to make DADT repeal a reality and our efforts paid off. Our success came in large part because we worked with fair-minded lawmakers in both parties. But now we see what our opponents are up to. As the 112th Congress convenes, we will fight even harder. Our work isn’t done.