The Senate Armed Services Committee will be voting on an amendment by Senator Lieberman this Thursday to the National Defense Authorization Act that would finally repeal DADT.
Senator Susan Collins may be a deciding vote on whether the committee votes for repeal.
Since 1994, more than 13,500 qualified and committed service members, both men and women, have been fired under DADT simply on the basis of their sexual orientation. This discrimination has cost the United States a very steep price in terms of lost skills, many of which the Pentagon considers "mission critical."
We are long overdue to end this discriminatory and counterproductive policy, which has undermined our military and served a grave disservice to the millions of men and women who serve in it with pride and distinction.