President Barack Obama included the
contributions of gay troops in his State of the Union address
delivered Tuesday evening.
An overarching theme in Obama's speech,
titled An America Built to Last, was lessons that could be
gleaned from the military's spirit of inclusion and teamwork.
“Last month, I went to Andrews Air
Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in
Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under
which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought – and
several thousand gave their lives.”
“We gather tonight knowing that this
generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more
respected around the world.”
“These achievements are a testament
to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America's Armed Forces.
At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they
exceed all expectations. They're not consumed with personal
ambition. They don't obsess over their differences. They focus on
the mission at hand. They work together.”
Near the end of his speech, Obama
returned to the military, saying, “When you put on that uniform, it
doesn't matter if you're black or white; Asian or Latino;
conservative or liberal; rich or poor; gay or straight.”
“When you're in the thick of the
fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no
one behind.”
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the largest group
lobbying for the rights of gay troops, said his group was “pleased
to hear President Obama acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices
of our service members, including gay and lesbian Americans who wear
our nation's uniform.”
“The repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell' would not have been possible without his vision and
determination,” Sarvis added.