The New York Times reported on Dec 18, 2010:
The Senate on Saturday struck down the ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military, bringing to a close a 17-year struggle over a policy that forced thousands of Americans from the ranks and caused others to keep secret their sexual orientation.
By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama a repeal of the Clinton-era law, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy critics said amounted to government-sanctioned discrimination that treated gay and lesbian troops as second-class citizens.
Mr. Obama hailed the action, which fulfills his pledge to reverse the ban. “As commander in chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known,” Mr. Obama said in a statement after the Senate, on a 63-33 vote, beat back Republican efforts to block a final vote on the repeal bill.
The vote marked a historic moment that some equated with the end of racial segregation in the military.
It followed a comprehensive review by the Pentagon that found a low risk to military effectiveness despite greater concerns among some combat units and the Marine Corps. The review also found that Pentagon officials supported Congressional repeal as a better alternative than an court-ordered end.
Read the full article in the New York Times here.
Gay and lesbian servicemen should remain closeted for now
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has however warned that the process of certification could take at least two months and possibly up to a year. But for now, gay and lesbian servicemen should remain closeted.
Gates was quoted in an AFP report as saying: "The new rules would still not take effect for another 60 days. The military will implement change in a responsible, deliberate manner,' said Mullen, the highest ranking military officer. Gates warned troops they should keep their sexual orientation quiet for now because the current law and policy will remain in effect during the deliberative process. The Pentagon has nonetheless implemented a de facto moratorium on ousting troops over their sexual orientation since a first ruling against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by a federal judge in October."
Gay advocate and former Army infantry officer Dan Choi, who was discharged after publicly challenging the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law and was hospitalised two weeks ago after suffering a "breakdown and anxiety attack" says he intends to rejoin the military.
Reader's Comments
All hail, civil rights!! =D
Wishing you at Christmas time the very best there is,
Good Luck, Good Cheer and a Bright New Year and
I'd like to say, Have a Happy Christmas Day.
Best Wishes Always, Jeff
Love another people, understand another people,forget and for give another people As if you love yourself, you understand yourself, you forget and forgive yourself.
then you will wake and sleep happily all day and night.
I am looking forward to hearing from a bigger victory in Gay Marriage in very near future. Come on, brother, Join Canada to legalize gay marriage. So far, there are only two English Speaking countries accept gay marriage, Iceland (2010) and Canada (2005).
Kiss kiss kiss, American cute gay soldiers. I love u all. God bless !
GLBT issues are the last real minefield for civil rights in America, and it's taken 40+ years to even get to this point, so I'm glad to see DADT repealed, but ashamed it took so long and was so hard to make happen in the first place.
This article, by a straight man, says it far more eloquently and I encourage you guys to read it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mitchell-bard/glad-to-see-dadt-gone-but_b_798820.html
i take this news with mixed feelings. nonetheless still a milestone in the quest to eliminate discrimination
i personally like what the President Obama said.
"I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known..."
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