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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Robyn Shepherd, (212) 519-7829 or 549-2666; media@aclu.org

President Signs Historic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Legislation Into Law

WASHINGTON

President
Obama today signed into law a bill repealing the discriminatory "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The president called for the policy's repeal in
his State of the Union address in January.

The American Civil Liberties Union commended both Congress and the
president for reversing the failed policy and urged swift implementation
of its repeal.

The following can be attributed to Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

"We commend both Congress and the president for making the repeal of
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' a priority. Today is an historic step forward
for those who have lived their lives in silence while serving our
country and for all Americans who believe in fairness and equality.

"The reversal of this policy should serve as a message that
discrimination has no place in our laws. The law now must be implemented
by the Department of Defense to ensure that no more service members are
unfairly discharged. The sooner the law is implemented, the sooner our
gay and lesbian service members can begin serving their country with
honesty and dignity."

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

(212) 549-2666