Former President Bill Clinton was often referred to as America's first black president - that was until we elected a black president.

But in some circles, smaller to be sure, Clinton was sometimes called the first gay president. He was the first American president who even acknowledged the LGBT community.

And it's one of the sadder points of his legacy that he got cornered into Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Obama is taking on repealing DADT. Let's hope he is successful.

DADT is one of the most offensive laws on the books and every American should be against it, whether you are in the military or not.

Allowing men and women to defend the freedoms of their fellow Americans on the condition that they suppress their own is a perversion of everyone's freedom.

DADT sanctions institutionalized homophobia: respected military careers have ended abruptly. And in the middle of two wars, much needed linguists and translators have been denied service because of their sexual orientation.

Colin Powell, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former secretary of state is a strong supporter of affirmative action. He once told reporters that the military is perhaps the most integrated institution in America.

It's not surprising that his experience tells him that DADT is bad policy.

It's also not surprising that conservative Bill Kristol and Sen. John McCain are among those speaking out against changing DADT, saying that it works fine.

So let's see - we use our military resources and spend over $1 trillion abroad to free Iraqis and Afghans, but we use laws like DADT to suppress freedoms at home.