The implementation of don't ask, don't tell's repeal has gone very, very well.

Our allies, Great Britain, Australia, Israel, some of the strongest militaries in the world, allow transgender people to serve openly and have experienced no ill effects from that.

Today, the gay and lesbian people are accepted. Their families are welcome in the units where they serve. This is not so for transgender people in any way. But, nevertheless, it could be.

Transgender people have served, are serving, and will continue to serve.

If we know one thing from the transgender people who are currently serving - I'm in contact with one group that counts almost 200 people in uniform today who identify as transgender - it is a process that they have - that many of them have begun, that many of them would very much like to complete, if they could do so without putting their years at risk.

The U.S. military is so far behind the rest of our society.

I'm just one example of thousands of transgender veterans and people who are actively serving today.