Congress Overturns Military Ban of Gays Serving Openly, Sends Bill to Obama’s Desk
FoxNews.com
Published December 18, 2010
AP2010 – Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., from right, speaks as he stands with Sen. Joesph Lieberman, I-Conn., Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., at a news conference about the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” bill. (AP)
WASHINGTON — In a landmark vote, the Senate on Saturday ended the Clinton-era ban on gays serving openly in the military, marking a major triumph for President Obama, liberals and the gay community.
The final vote to end the Pentagon’s 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was 65-31, drawing support from eight Republicans.
The bill now goes to the White House for Obama’s signature. He is expected to sign the bill into law next week, a senior White House aide told Fox News.
Once the law is repealed, gays will be openly accepted by the military for the first time in U.S. history, and can acknowledge their sexual orientation without fear of being kicked out. More than 13,500 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law.
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