American Foundation for Equal Rights

Congress Passes Bill to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2010

CONTACT: Brandon Hersh (202-412-9766) / Marissa Moss (415-322-3374)/ press@afer.org

STATEMENT ON “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” VOTE IN U.S. SENATE BY AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR EQUAL RIGHTS BOARD PRESIDENT CHAD GRIFFIN

Los Angeles, CA – “Today’s vote to end the egregious and discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law is a major victory for the millions of patriotic gay and lesbian Americans who have and who continue to serve their country honorably.  This historic vote is also a victory for the principles on which our nation was founded: all Americans are equal under the law and no one should be subject to discrimination.

“Today it further evidence that the fight for equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans, which has historically been seen as a partisan issue is increasingly becoming bipartisan.  Just as conservative Ted Olson and liberal David Boies came together in the fight for marriage equality, we are glad to see that the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell had strong bipartisan support, and that Republican Senators Brown, Burr, Ensign, Kirk, Voinovich, Collins, Murkowski and Snowe and Independent Senator Joe Lieberman worked alongside their Democratic colleagues to end this unfair policy and to take a stand for human rights.

“Finally, we want to congratulate and thank the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, Human Rights Campaign, Center for American Progress, Lt. Dan Choi and the many others who fought long and hard to close this cruel chapter of government-sanctioned discrimination. The American Foundation for Equal Rights will continue its work to ensure all Americans are treated equally and share the same fundamental constitutional rights.”

About the American Foundation for Equal Rights

The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of the Perry case. After bringing together Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, the Foundation successfully advanced the Perry case through federal district court and is now leading it through the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals before the case is brought to the United States Supreme Court. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality.

For more information, visit www.afer.org.

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