December 2010 marks a major landmark for Gay Americans! The Senate voted 65-31 to allow gay men and women to serve openly in the military! This bill passed the House 250-175 on 12/16/2010. After 17 years and over 13,500 service members dismissed under DADT, this law is finally on its way to Obama's desk to be repealed!
The Senate has voted to end the military's ban on openly gay troops, putting the final Congressional approval on an end to the disastrous Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy. Since Congress passed the compromise bill 17 years ago, DADT has cost the nation an estimated $1.3 billion dollars and ended the careers of 13,000 service members who wanted to help their nation.
And finally, today, in passing a standalone bill for repeal by a vote of 65-31, the Senate has ended Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Notably, Republican Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and John Ensign of Nevada switched their votes from no on cloture earlier to yes for final passage. The measures were advanced primarily in the House by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pennsylvania) and in the Senate by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) should get an honorary pound cake or something for totally coming through. And as Rachel Maddow just said on MSNBC, this is the president's victory. Link
What a victorious Civil Rights moment!
I know Christian Conservatives are spewing right now, but I equate this to the ending of racial segregation in the military back in the 1950's and allowing women to join the military in the 1970's. This repeal is about equality, liberty and justice for our military men & women fighting for our country! In a time of war and a hand grenade saved your fellow soldier, why does it matter if that man or woman who threw it was straight or gay?
65-31! Thank you Senate Democrats and 8 Republicans for righting this wrong. Here are the 8 Republicans:
Scott Brown of Massachusetts
Richard Burr of North Carolina (switched his vote to yes despite initial vote of no)
Susan Collins of Maine
Olympia Snowe of Maine
John Ensign of Nevada (switched his vote to yes despite initial vote of no)
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Mark Kirk of Illinois
George Voinovich of Ohio
I'm proud to see these 8 politicians from the "Party of No" doing something good for our country! Welcome to the 20th Century and Thank You!
Now America catches up with 25 other countries that allows gay service men & women to serve openly.
They are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
At last check, these countries are still thriving today and their military have not imploded into oblivion!
