Evan Bayh: “Many of us feel that it is our responsibility now to step up and to provide better direction to this whole thing.”

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.

There's something fundamentally wrong about that. If we can pursue our Nation's security without putting them or us as a country institutionalizing hypocrisy, I think America is stronger, we are a more just and secure country.

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.

If they become significantly affected by this, does that present a systemic risk of some kind?