As you know, last evening an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 brought forth by Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania to legislate the process by which the Department of Defense and the President of the United States can repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 234 to 194. While there are still some major hurdles to the final passage of this legislation, especially in the Senate, this is a historic step for our nation.
 
I am proud that every one five out of six of our Virginia Democrats in the House of Representatives voted for the passage of the amendment to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. This policy has been a blemish on our nation for over a decade, and it’s now time for us to catch up to a majority of our allies in removing restrictions banning gays and lesbians from serving in the military.

Democratic Representatives Glenn Nye, Tom Perriello, Bobby Scott, Jim Moran, and Gerry Connolly voted in support of the amendment to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Every Republican from Virginia voted against the amendment, and for some reason Democrat Rick Boucher decided to join them.

As someone who marched on Washington in support of equality and has met with Congressman Glenn Nye for the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBT Stonewall Caucus of Virginia, I am grateful for our Democratic delegation in the House of Representatives and am hopeful that we will finally be successful in repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Related posts:

1. My Letter to Senator Webb Regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
2. From the State of the Union to action: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” targeted
3. Nye gives answers, but many questions remain heading into 2010
4. Health Care Reform passes House of Representatives