Don't Ask, Don't tell, ended. This is a great victory. Now for the right to marry.

The repressive don't ask don't tell policy of the US military has at last been done away with. This is a great victory. Now gay and lesbian people in the military will be able to be open about their sexual orientation. This is a great victory for all people. It strengthens our rights and freedoms. The US military is the biggest employer in the US. This gives us some idea of the shift in consciousness that will now take place.

This victory came about because gay and lesbian people and their supporters fought for their rights over the decades. The civil rights movement and the black revolt of the 1960's, the women's movement of the 1960's and 1970's, these gave a powerful impetus to the struggle for the rights of gay and lesbian people. But the gay and lesbian people led this struggle and have to be given the greatest of credit for doing so. We should all congratulate them and share in this moment of their victory.

But the struggle is far from over. There is plenty of bigotry lurking out there that has to be taken on. We will see this when we begin to focus more on the next step. This is the struggle for the right of gay and lesbian people to marry and have families. This is their right and the fight has to be stepped up to win this. There must be no backsliding.

This struggle has to be taken into the workplaces and unions. We cannot win in our struggles with the bosses if we are divided. Turning gay and lesbian people against straight people is just another variant on the old divide and rule tactic to keep the working class down. We have to struggle for working class unity in this fight for the rights of gay and lesbian people. And we have to see also that this divide and rule tactic is not just because of the bosses bigotry. It is also to get more cheap labor, to avoid having to pay equal pay for equal work.

The struggle against the oppression of gay and lesbian people has to also be the struggle for a decent life for all people, a guaranteed job on union wages and benefits, a $15.00 an hour minimum wage or a $5.00 an hour increase whichever is the greater, health care and education free at the point of use for all, an end to the rule of the corporations over society. This is the approach we need. One that will unite working people and within which we can build a movement which will further the aims of the gay and lesbian movement which have not yet been achieved.