Tonight, over a drink with my friend Phil at 9:01 PM PST, we toasted the end of DADT and welcomed a new era of equality for the LGBT. A deep bow to everyone who worked for this victory

As I was celebrating with Phil, people like Dan Choi, President Obama, Katherine Miller, Aubrey Sarvis, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Lenny Matlovich, former Rep. Patrick Murphy, Victor J. Fehrenbach, Andy Towle, Joe Steffan, Rachel Maddow, Andrew Wilfahrt, Senator Susan Collins, Admiral Mike Mullen, Grethe Cammermeyer, Senator Lieberman, Mike Almy, Log Cabin Republicans, and my mom and friends came to mind and are just a few of the many many people who fought for the repeal of DADT. God bless them all, for they stood up for freedom, love and the highest values that this country was founded on. They are patriots.