The Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell = huge voctory for the United States and the LGBT community

As you may be aware, Congress voted to repeal the military’s discriminatory policy of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) in late December and President Obama quickly signed the repeal into law. We apologize for this delayed reaction—we’ve all been very busy here at PFY—but we couldn’t let this news pass by without acknowledging how enormously significant this legislation is to LGBT youth on Long Island, LGBT people everywhere, and really, everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. Young people enlist in the military for many different reasons—to serve their country, for financial opportunity, and to further their education and/or career. LGBT’s have always been part of the military, but they have served at a terrible price. They had to hide their identity, their marriages, their families and their relationships from others due to a policy of exclusion. They were subjected to entrapment, threats, discharge without honor or benefits, physical attacks, and even murders because of the military’s hostile attitude toward them. The vote to repeal DADT does not go into immediate effect; the military is currently working out how to implement “integration” of LGBT personnel. But the policy will be gone very soon, and LGBT youth will be able to take advantage of the opportunities the military provides, with equal access, for the first time in U.S. history. In President Obama’s words, “By ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.” This is a moment in history and a huge celebration for the LGBT community and our allies. For more information, The Huffington Post published this great article regarding the repeal. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/18/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal_5_n_798636.html