Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
COSTELLO: President Obama signing the bill, repealing "don't ask, don't tell." The policy banning gays from serving their country. Because of the policy, more than 14,000 people were discharged over 17 years.</s>ROBERTS: Yesterday, the president spoke at length about the military now welcoming everyone, regardless of their sexuality.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That is why I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform, your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known.</s>ROBERTS: It's going to be months before the repeal is fully implemented but yesterday was a cause for celebration for those who fought against the policy, including Justin Elzie. He is the first Marine discharged under "don't ask, don't tell," that was back in 1993. And he was at yesterday's bill signing. Good to see you this morning. Thanks so much.</s>JUSTIN ELZIE, AUTHOR OF "PLAYING BY THE RULES": Thank you.</s>ROBERTS: So you've managed to serve openly in the military for four years -</s>ELZIE: Yes.</s>ROBERTS: After the policy was first implemented. But you have seen so many things happen under "don't ask, don't tell." What you have seen over the years and what was it like to be in yesterday's signing ceremony?</s>ELZIE: Well, you know, over the years, we've seen a lot of people's lives ruined, you know, whether they're going out to an establishment or who they associated it with, called in and interrogated. You know, so it was really emotional and amazing yesterday and I was actually proud and humbled to be in that room with so many amazing people who have worked this issue over the last 17 years and before that. You know, people like Lt. Dan Choi was there with Robin McGee, and Michelle Benaqui (ph) and Dixon Osbourne (ph), service members legal defense network and Alex Nicholson and George Polski (ph) with Service Members United. All of those veterans it was almost - it was just very emotional.</s>COSTELLO: There must have been many people with tears in their eyes.</s>ELZIE: Yes. Yes.</s>COSTELLO: I mean, they had to rent a bigger room to accommodate all the people in Washington?</s>ELZIE: Yes. There were over 500 people there in Washington.</s>COSTELLO: You don't see that very often.</s>ELZIE: No, you don't. And I think what was really touching, what really got my heart, besides meeting all those people, you know, was like a homecoming, the president's remarks and how he acknowledged, all the people's lives have been ruined. And then I thought it was also important how he spoke to the service members, lesbians and gay already in the ranks of the military in those combat units, and he said, you will be the role models going forward. And I thought that was really powerful.</s>ROBERTS: You are such an advocate for this. You chained yourself to the White House fence at one point.</s>ELZIE: Yes.</s>ROBERTS: You went to the tragedy of seeing your military I.D. cut up in front of you. For you, how has this journey been?</s>ELZIE: Right now, it's full circle. I'm still processing it. I think last night, I finally broke down. I think a lot of people are, they're processing this. I think it's satisfying and rewarding. I'm just humbled to be part of this moment in history.</s>COSTELLO: I think that, you know, Lieutenant Dan Choi - I've interviewed him many times -</s>ELZIE: Right.</s>COSTELLO: He's always said to me, I would love to serve my country again, I would love to re-enlist.</s>ELZIE: Right.</s>COSTELLO: But even though the president's going to sign a bill or a law repealing "don't ask, don't tell," that kind of thing won't be possible for quite some time?</s>ELZIE: Well, I think that's very important you point that out because, you know, they have to do a certification, write the policies and procedures. I think there's a going to be a lot of pressure. I hope that they do not slow-walk this. In the next six months, we see them actually saying OK, officially no more discharges and getting these people back in the military to serve their country.</s>ROBERTS: We remember that the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, came out strongly in favor of overturning the policy. Mullen had a particularly emotional appeal when he said, "We've got thousands of men and women who are willing to die for their country and we ask them to lie about who they are, particularly during a time of war. This impedes what we need to do." Was it their support for this that really was the turning point?</s>ELZIE: I think Admiral Mullen saying that gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military, I think that was - when that happened, you heard the walls fall. That was the most powerful moment, more than anything anybody else could have said, whether it was Obama or any politician. I think the head of the military saying this, that was just - a lot of people, just wow, their hearts broke.</s>COSTELLO: And that has actually happened. What does this say about America and our culture right now?</s>ELZIE: For me, as a gay American, I think it really speaks, and it renews my confidence in our American values of equality and fairness. And I'm very proud to be an American today to serve my country.</s>ROBERTS: This is something that I've been rolling around in my head. The fact that this is now going to be the policy that openly gay people can serve in the military. Do you think it will make things easier for a gay member to be in the military. Or the fact that they will come out could it potentially make it more difficult?</s>ELZIE: I think it makes it easier. Because one of the problems, you know, people say, why is this policy hurtful? I mean, if you have to walk into work every day and be worried about being fired, that's a lot of stress on you. It affects your performance and your life. So I think it's a positive thing. And, of course, you know, the majority of service members said it would be a positive thing in the study. So I think it's going to be a positive thing and it will be good for people going forward.</s>COSTELLO: Thank you so much for being here this morning and congratulations on your victory.</s>ELZIE: Yes, thank you. Well, it's everybody's victory, all the veterans who worked on this.</s>ROBERTS: Justin Elzie, great to see you this morning.</s>ELZIE: Thank you.</s>ROBERTS: Thanks.</s>COSTELLO: That soggy storm out west is on the move. It's bringing - guess what? Snow with it. That's nest. Rob Marciano is taking Christmas by storm.