Chad Griffin, 09/20/12

President, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Far from the catastrophe predicted by the opponents of equality, the only shock of DADT repeal seems to be that there was no shock at all. Of course, the American people are beginning to notice a trend here.

Alexander Nicholson, 09/20/12

Author, 'Fighting to Serve: Behind the Scenes in the War to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"'

With such a successful final outcome on this policy change, it would be easy to just savor the triumph, be satisfied, and move on. But what many may not realize, however, is that gay troops are still not being treated equally within our armed forces.

Brian Stone, 09/20/12

Gay veteran of the U.S. Navy

Today is a reminder that President Obama fights for all Americans. On the first anniversary of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," gay servicemembers like me -- and all Americans -- have plenty to be grateful for.

Bernard Whitman, 09/20/12

President/CEO of Whitman Insight Strategies, Author of '52 Reasons to Vote for Obama'

Our country is safer, our military force is stronger, and our national character is strengthened as a result of the end of DADT.

Ian Thompson, 09/19/12

Legislative Representative, Washington Legislative Office, ACLU

While the arguments that were once employed to argue against DADT repeal may now look "foolish," the continued efforts by some to greenlight discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers is no laughing matter.

Jeff Sheng, 09/19/12

Artist and Photographer, Point Scholar and Sociology PhD Student at Stanford University

For almost three years, from January 2009 until September 2011, I carried out a project photographing closeted servicemembers who could not reveal their faces and identities in these photographs. If they did, they risked losing their jobs by being kicked out of the military.

Evan Mulvihill, 09/19/12

Journalist

A number of anecdotes, both funny and moving, were relayed to me last night at the one-year anniversary celebration of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." The gala honored Admiral Mike Mullen for his role in dismantling DADT.

Jackie Gardina, 09/18/12

Professor, Vermont Law School

Everything I learned about creating sustainable change I learned witnessing the effort to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." Before then I never truly appreciated what was required to create change.

Dorian de Wind, 09/18/12

Retired U.S. Air Force Officer and writer

What did the study -- "the first scholarly effort to assess the accuracy of such predictions about the impact of DADT repeal on military readiness" -- show?

Elizabeth Birch, 09/17/12

President, Birch & Company

Just as World War II was ending, Melvin Dwork, a handsome young American sailor, was given a dishonorable discharge because he was gay. Now 94, Dwork will celebrates his now honorable discharge.

Aaron Belkin, 09/10/12

Author, 'How We Won: Progressive Lessons from the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"'

Given that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has confirmed the success of the repeal process, perhaps it's no surprise that we found that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly has not compromised military readiness.

Shane L. Windmeyer, 09/20/12

Executive Director, Campus Pride

Chick-fil-A has not made any public statements or changes in policy. It may be weeks, months, or even years before the claims by Alderman Moreno are found to be true -- or false. The fact that Chick-fil-A has not come forward to confirm any of his claims should raise doubts.

Lauren Leto, 09/20/12

Author

Bookstores are the easiest place to pick someone up. Think about it: a conversation topic is usually in the hand of the other person, people often browse quietly and alone (no need for shouting over music or wingmen).

Andrew Cotto, 09/20/12

Author

Throughout this ordeal my friend felt like a bystander. The doctors wouldn't speak to him, and the nurses treated him like an annoying friend of the family. He was family. This was his partner in terrible pain, thousands of miles from home in an inhospitable hospital.

Amity P. Buxton, 09/20/12

Co-author, 'Unseen-Unheard: Journey of Straight Spouses'; founder, Straight Spouse Network

Tucked in a corner of the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender closet is a little-known group: straight women and men in heterosexual marriages whose husbands or wives come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender after marrying them as "the right thing to do."

Leslie Lagerstrom, 09/20/12

Proud mom of two children; advocate for families with transgender and gender-variant kids

For most people, getting your driver's license in the mail is a non-event. But for Sam, we were anxious, for a reason 99 percent of the population would never consider. For Sam (and therefore for me, because I love him so much), we were eager to see if the gender marker actually read "M."

Erez Aloni, 09/20/12

Fellow, Center for Reproductive Rights, Columbia Law School

The U.S. government and the states continue to promote marriage is the best framework for relationships. Civil partnerships could emerge as the common-sense solution to a boatload of problems common to Western nations.