US Congress Repeals Ban on Gays in Military
VOA News 18 December 2010
The U.S. Senate has voted to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
On Saturday, the Senate voted 65 to 31 to repeal the policy - known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The House of Representatives approved the measure earlier in the week.
President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday that he looks forward to signing the bill into law. Mr. Obama said the law will strengthen national security while upholding the basic equality on which the nation was founded.
Some 14,000 members of the military have been discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since it was introduced in 1993.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also welcomed passage of the bill, but said new policies will not take effect immediately. Gates said military leaders will first have to certify that the new policies and regulations are consistent with standards of military readiness and effectiveness.
Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said passing the repeal was the right thing to do. Mullen said able men and women who want to serve their country will no longer have to sacrifice their integrity to do so.
Arizona Senator John McCain led opposition to the bill. Before the final vote, McCain predicted that it would do great damage to the military. McCain said he had been told by thousands of service members the repeal would harm the battle-effectiveness of the military.
A recent study found nearly 60 percent of those in the Marine Corps and in Army combat units said repealing the ban would damage their effectiveness.
But the survey also found 70 percent of the tens of thousands of troops and military spouses surveyed believe lifting the ban on gays would not hurt the military.
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