Obama to sign bill repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ | Eastern North Carolina Now

    For the first time in American history, gay, lesbian and bisexual service members can justifiably look forward to being able to openly serve in the United States Military, as soon as President Barack Obama signs today's successful bill repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," more formally known as Defense Directive 1304.26. This is a huge victory for Obama, who campaigned on the promise of repeal, as well as the LGBT community, putting them one step closer to equal rights.

    Earlier this afternoon, the United States Senate voted 65-31 to pass the bill, with eight Republicans and two independents siding with 55 Democrats in favor of repeal. U.S. Senator Richard Burr, from North Carolina, was one of the eight Republicans who voted to repeal. The United States House of Representatives passed an identical version of the bill, 250-175, on Dec. 15.

    The House quickly scheduled hearings to consider abolishing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" directly after the Obama Administration's Comprehensive Review Working Group published their final report on the subject on Nov. 30. In light of the favorable studies published, it was the Pentagon's recommendation that Congress consider the matter before it could be taken up and enforced by the courts.

   U.S. Senator John McCain (Rep-Az) argued against repeal, along with the chiefs of staff of the Army and Air Force as well as the Commandant of the Marine Corps on the grounds that such action would be disruptive and even dangerous during wartime. Proponents of the bill argued that allowing homosexuals to join the military would lead to an influx of new troops, replenishing American forces, which have been stretched thin by deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

    Obama is expected to sign the bill into law next week, although changes to military policy may not take effect for several months. Under the bill, the president and his top military advisers must first certify that lifting the ban will not harm the troops' ability to fight. After that, the military will undergo a 60-day wait period.

    "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was President Bill Clinton's 1993 improvement on 1982 DOD Directive 1332.14, which reinforced the military's right to discriminate against homosexuals by stating that homosexuality was clearly incompatible with military service. During the 1992 presidential campaign, Clinton promised to reverse all such discrimination, but settled on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as a compromise with Congress, which sought to preserve the 1982 ban absolutely.

    "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" overcame the military's right to inquire about the sexual preference of applicants or veterans. It's tolerance of homosexuality ended there, however, as it forced those homosexuals who were enlisted to keep that part of themselves hidden, on threat of discharge. Furthermore, if anyone was suspected of being homosexual, the military could launch an investigation.

    More than 13,500 service members were dismissed under the 1993 law.

    At least 25 countries allow gays to serve openly in the armed forces, among them Britain, Canada and Israel.