In your New Year’s Day address to the nation, you proudly described America as a “land of justice, liberty, and tolerance.” Yet in the U.S. military, men and women who have served their country with courage, skill, and distinction are discharged every day simply because of their sexual orientation. For many minority groups, the U.S. military has helped to break down walls of prejudice; yet for gay men and lesbians, those barriers of intolerance remain. We ask you to take the necessary steps to end military rules that discriminate against gay and lesbian servicemembers.