Obama certifies DADT repeal, allowing openly gay Americans to serve in the military for the first time

President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mike Mullen certified the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act on July 22, 2011; the repeal took effect 60 days later on September 20, 2011. Congress had passed the standalone repeal legislation in December 2010 with 65 Senate votes and 250 House votes. The repeal ended 17 years during which an estimated 13,000 service members were discharged under DADT. Transgender service members were not covered — they remained subject to an informal Pentagon exclusion policy.