THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

—Bridget Altenburg, a Chicagoan who is the founding member of Knights Out, a pro-LGBT organization at West Point: " [ The ] vote was the beginning of the end to the only law [ that I know of ] that mandates discrimination. [ Seventeen ] years and 13,000 service members later we will finally allow our brave men and women to serve their country openly. I served from 1995-2000 and remember coming back from deployment and walking past the celebrating family members so I could celebrate quietly with my girlfriend. Next year soldiers coming back from war will be welcomed home by their partners. They will be able to notify their partners when they are wounded. They will be able to live together and care for their families without lying. If this law had been repealed 10 years ago I might have stayed in the Army. I salute those dedicated men and women who are intent on continuing to serve or re-enlisting now that DADT has been repealed."

—Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network: "…to talk only about DADT repeal in the narrow context of LGBT rights and ignore the devastating impact of the U.S. military on the peoples of the world would be arrogance in the extreme. There are over 1,000 American military bases outside of the U.S., mostly in countries whose peoples don't want them there, helping prop up scores of U.S.-allied thugs. For those naive enough to persist in thinking that those troops are there to help other peoples or to 'defend our freedom,' I need only point to the WikiLeaks revelations. The U.S. is responsible for half the world's military spending; that's not defense, that's empire. ... If LGBT people want solidarity from non-LGBT people for our struggles, we cannot fail to give solidarity to the justice struggles of 'others,' many of whom are themselves LGBT as well."

—Civic leader Bob Zuley: "As a U.S. Army veteran, I'm relieved that gays and lesbians will now be allowed to openly serve in our nations armed forces. Those in opposition to this initiative, despite multiple studies, endorsements, and public polls that support repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) persist in opposing full equality for LGBT people without any basis in fact.

"Gays and lesbians will now be eligible for the same benefits, opportunities and privileges accorded their straight counterparts in military service including promising career paths and educational, medical, travel, wage, and burial benefits. While gays and lesbians are presently serving and dying for our nation just as they have since the days of the Continental Army, they now join with openly gay military forces from other countries who fight alongside us in our current hostilities. Ending DADT and allowing gay and lesbian to serve is a proud day for the United States."

—Lucky Mosqueda, Gender JUST leadership team member: "I'm not going to be happy about the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' because it's just another example of the LGBT organizations spending time and money on issues that don't make life better for my community. People living with AIDS can't afford medication, people living in poverty don't have food, people are still dying in wars—and our community is working to strengthen the U.S. war machine?"

—Kevin Boyer and Nina Fernandez, GLAAD Chicago Leadership Council co-chairs: "Repealing DADT strengthens our national defense and is consistent with fundamental American principles of fairness and equality. Recruiting the best candidates for our military, regardless of sexual orientation, is what is best for our national security. We are proud of the role played by many from Chicago and Illinois to end this unjust and unwise policy, including the brave service members who shared their stories after being discharged."

—Join the Impact Chicago: "This isn't just a victory for the servicemembers who will no longer have to hide their sexual orientation. It's the end of the last law requiring that people must be fired for being gay or bisexual. Join The Impact Chicago thanks every activist who refused to let this issue die, from those who chained themselves to the White House fence, to those who called Congress or wrote a letter. We need the same effort and commitment to win things like safe schools and homes for trans and queer kids, inclusive nondiscrimination laws, marriage equality, and an end to homophobia and transphobia in society. So celebrate with us and get ready to push on!"

-Compiled by Kate Sosin