Last week, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the discriminatory policy that barred gay men and women from serving openly in the military, was finally repealed. I hosted a rally in Norwalk this weekend to celebrate this milestone in equality and discuss the future steps we must take to ensure equal rights for all LGBT people. I was joined by the Human Rights Campaign and Triangle Community Center, as well as LGBT constituents and allies from across the district.
At the rally, I was able to thank the many LGBT men and women who give so much for this country and ask for so little in return. It was inspiring to meet with some of these patriots, who until now were forced to live a lie just to be able to defend the country they love. Among them was Tony Grecco of Waterbury, who was discharged from his Army training program earlier this year because of his sexual orientation. Now that DADT is repealed, Tony will be returning to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri next month. It was moving to hear about how he never gave up in the face of bigotry and will continue to serve his country, proudly and openly.
I was proud to cast my vote for the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act last December. For too long, our military was turning away some of America’s best and brightest for reasons that are unrelated to their ability to serve their country. But even with DADT gone, we still have a long way to go to ensure equality for LGBT people. For example, transgender people still cannot serve openly in the military, and LGBT servicemembers have no protection from discrimination in the military. Outside of the military, LGBT people are subject to workplace and housing discrimination in many states, and the “Defense of Marriage Act” prevents legally-wedded same-sex couples – like those married in Connecticut – from receiving the same federal benefits as straight couples. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a giant step forward, but there is more work to be done in ensuring full equality for LGBT people, and I will continue working towards that goal in Congress.
To view photos from this weekend’s rally, click here.