Evan Bayh: “Today I would like to tell this Committee about S. 1779.”

We should not discriminate against them. We should honor that service, honor that patriotism, the way we do the service and patriotism of any American who is willing to put on the uniform of this country.

In all likelihood there were gay Americans serving at Valley Forge, there were gay Americans at Gettysburg, there were gay Americans on Normandy Beach, there are gay Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

I believe is discriminatory. Times have changed since then and it seems to me we should respond to those changes, changes in the attitude of our people, the acceptance of gay and lesbian people in the workplace.

It's time now to allow men and women to serve their country and to do so without having to conceal their sexual orientation.