US Senate Votes To Lift Gay Military Ban

2:16am UK, Sunday December 19, 2010

Robert Nisbet, US correspondent

President Obama has hailed as "an historic step" a vote allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the US military.

Senators voted 65 to 31 to overturn the measure known as 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' (DADT), which was introduced as a compromise measure by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

It allowed gay men and lesbians to enlist, as long as they kept their sexuality a secret, but led to the discharge of almost 14,000 people over 17 years.

Moments after the vote, the President blogged: "It is time to close this chapter in our history.

"It is time to recognise that sacrifice, valour and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed."

"It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law," he wrote.

That is expected to happen before Christmas, although it will be many months before the repeal is fully implemented: the Pentagon has said it wants the change to be introduced gradually to minimise disruption.

It is time to recognise that sacrifice, valour and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed

President Obama on lifting of the US military gay ban

That's not enough for some opponents of repeal, including former Presidential hopeful Senator John McCain.

He called the vote a "sad day for America," and warned: "Don't think that it won't be at great cost...it will probably harm the battle effectiveness which is so vital to the survival of our young men and women in the military."

A week ago, the movement to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell had seemed dead in the water. It had been included in a much larger defence bill, which failed to pass.

But two Senators introduced the measure in a stand-alone bill in the dying embers of this 'lame-duck' congress and they managed to secure the votes of eight Republicans - a much larger number than expected.

Repeal had been supported by nearly every Democrat and a number of public figures, including Lady GaGa.

After the vote she tweeted: "Can't hold back the tears + pride. We did it! Our voice was heard + today the Senate REPEALED DADT. A triumph for equality after 17 YEARS."

The UK ended its ban on gays in the military in 2000 after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, and Israel changed its law in 1993.

Turkey is now the only Nato ally to prevent homosexuals from serving openly in the military.

White House commentator Jon-Christopher Bua told Sky News Online: "By repealing the policy the US Congress and President Obama have moved America one step closer to guaranteeing civil rights for all of its citizens.

"For those who fought to block this historic legislation - denying freedom for individuals who put their lives on the line in service to their country - this bi-partisan vote proves they are out of step with the moral conscience of their fellow Americans."