US Senate overturns gay military ban

In a landmark for gay rights, the US Senate today voted to let gays serve openly in the military.

US Senate overturns gay military ban

In a landmark for gay rights, the US Senate today voted to let gays serve openly in the military.

The vote gave President Barack Obama the chance to fulfil a campaign promise and repeal the 17-year policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Obama was expected to sign it next week, although the change wouldn’t take immediate effect.

The legislation says the president and his top military advisers must certify that lifting the ban won’t hurt troops’ fighting ability. After that, there’s a 60-day waiting period for the military.

“It is time to close this chapter in our history,” Obama said in a statement after a test vote cleared the way for final action. “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.”

The Senate vote was 65-31. The House had passed an identical version of the bill, 250-175, on Wednesday.

Repeal would mean that, for the first time in American history, gays would be openly accepted by the military and could acknowledge their sexual orientation without fear of being kicked out.

More than 13,500 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law that forced gay men and women in the military to hide their sexual identity.

Rounding up a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate was a historic victory for Obama, who made repeal a campaign promise in 2008.

It also was a political triumph for congressional Democrats who struggled in the final hours of the post-election session to overcome Republican objections on several legislative priorities before Republicans regain control of the House in January.

“As Barry Goldwater said, ’You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight,”’ said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, referring to the late Republican senator from Arizona.

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