Just a belated cheer for the end of the Don't Ask Don't Tell and the ban on gays serving in the U.S. military. Plus congratulations to all our serving and deployed gay soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coastguardsmen.
As Andrew Sullivan has said, the two great civil rights that will spell equality for gays are marriage and military service. In a free society, individuals are free to feel like they want about gay people. The government must treat everyone equally. Equality under the law is the bedrock of our society.
And as I've pointed out, the Israel Defence Forces have allowed gays to serve openly for two decades. If that were a detriment to combat effectiveness or unit cohesion, believe me that they wouldn't be doing it. When the Arabs lose, they go home. If the Israelis lose, they all go into the sea. People whose backs are to the wall and who are surrounded by enemies let gays do their fighting. Discussion over.
Apologies if you've already seen this video of a U.S. airman stationed in Germany coming out to his father, in Alabama, after the repeal of DADT. (Almost 5 million people have.) Both heartbreaking and totally heart-warming.
Oh, here's a great slideshow of service members who came out after the ban, on Slate.