United States Senate Repeals 17 Year Old Military Ban On Openly Gay Service Members; Final Vote 65-31

The Senate Saturday struck down the 17 year old United States military policy prohibiting openly gay service personal, the final vote 65-31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats approving a repeal of the archaic 17 year old ban that cost immeasurable harm to gays and lesbians either discharged under the policy or forced to deny their sexual orientation in order to serve their country. The New York Times reports that President Obama hailed the action, one that fulfils a campaign promise to reverse the ban, saying “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.” The historic vote is being compared to the end of racial segregation in the military, and it arrives after a completed review by the Pentagon, a nine-month long survey of active and reserve duty service members, as well as spouses, that found little to no concern about lifting the ban, conclusions backed by most Pentagon officials as a better alternative that allowing the judicial system to determine the end of the ban. It also revealed that a lifting of the ban would not adversely affect military readiness or unit cohesion. It is not yet known what time-lime will be followed in completing a full repeal and if the practice of honourably discharging openly gay and lesbian service members will be halted immediately. It needs to be noted that credit for ending “don’t ask, don’t tell”, which only a week ago appeared to be non-existent, need be given to Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) who rescued a repeal measure that, attached to a larger defense department authorisation bill, failed, and who, in creating a stand-alone bill, righted what was almost a certain wrong.