Subject: History
From: "Chris Coons" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:16:30 -0400 (EDT)

R.Hunter,

At 12:01 this morning, the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy officially became a thing of the past. No longer will gay and lesbian service members be forced to lie about who they are in order to defend our freedom. 

Ending the nearly two-decades-old policy was a daunting task. 

As someone who has made protecting civil rights the cornerstone of a ten-month Senate career, I believe there is nothing more important than ensuring that all Americans are created equal. 

While I continue to work in the Senate to end the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, all Americans must also celebrate the landmark repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Ending this discriminatory policy would not have been possible without the leadership and commitment of President Obama.

Please join me in thanking President Obama and the thousands of activists who never gave up.

Click below to sign our thank you card to President Obama and the rest of those who have worked so tirelessly to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell:

http://action.chriscoons.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=253&tag=092011email

Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a monumental step forward in the fight to end the federal government's discrimination against LGBT Americans. I am proud to have cosponsored the repeal legislation. And I was even prouder to vote for it.

President Obama made the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell a central part of his 2008 campaign, and during his 2010 State of the Union, he promised to work with Congress and the military to ensure the end of the policy. He made good on that promise, and signed Congress' repeal legislation into law late last year.

In the face of stiff opposition, President Obama fought for the freedom of those brave gay and lesbian service members who are fighting for ours.

Click below to sign our online card to President Obama -- and thank him for ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell:

http://action.chriscoons.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=253&tag=092011email

Today marks an important new chapter in our nation's history, one that respects the equality of all the brave men and women serving in our nation's armed forces, regardless of sexual orientation. I congratulate the soldiers who will now be free to serve without shame.

But there's still much work to do, and we can't stop fighting until we ensure the full equal rights and freedoms of every American.

Sincerely,

Chris Coons
U.S. Senator

TAKE ACTION: http://action.chriscoons.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=253&tag=092011email

CONTRIBUTE: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/coons-main?refcode=092011email

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