Senate Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Ban on gays in the military will end with President Obama's signature
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2010 2:39 PM CST
Senate Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., hugs "Don't Ask Don't Tell" supporter Eric Alva, a former Marine, near the floor of the Senate.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Almost a formality after this morning's successful vote to kill a Republican filibuster, but historic nonetheless: The Senate repealed the military's ban on openly gay service members this afternoon by a vote of 65-31, reports AP. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law next week, though it could take up to a year for Don't Ask, Don't Tell to be formally lifted because of military reviews required by law, notes MSNBC.

“We righted a wrong,” said Joe Lieberman, who with Susan Collins co-sponsored the measure. “Today we’ve done justice.” In the end, eight Republicans joined Democrats, including the expected (Collins, Olympia Snowe, George Voinovich, Lisa Murkowski, and Scott Brown) and the day's surprises (Richard Burr, John Ensign, and Mark Kirk), notes Politico. (More Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal stories.)

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