President Obama Praises Gay And Lesbian Soldiers At Air Force Graduation

"We live our values when our military, like America itself, truly welcomes the talents of all people."

From: NewNowNext

 President Obama followed up his Pride proclamation from earlier in the week with a salute to gay and lesbian service members at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs.

“We live our values when our military, like America itself, truly welcomes the talents of all people,” he said in his commencement address.

“We are stronger when our gay and lesbian cadets and troops can serve their country, a country they love, without hiding who they love.”

In 2011, Obama was instrumental in removing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the policy that kept openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members out of the Armed Forces.

But while both he and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter have said they support lifting the ban on trans people in the military, the May 27 deadline for the ban’s end has come and gone.