The United States Senate voted today to end the government’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which effectively barred out LGBTQ Americans from serving in the US military. The final vote was 65-31. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary just Tweeted that the bill will go to the President for signature later this week.
Check out Towleroad for more info about this historic day for LGBTQ Americans. Here’s a quote from their FAQ about the meaning of the end of DADT:
QUESTION: Is DADT gone?
Not quite. This was a cloture vote, which paves the way for actual repeal votes. Assuming the Senate acts on that at 3pm Eastern (12noon Pacific), the Senate and the House will pass the identical bill, which means it can be sent to the President for his signature pretty quickly. Congress can even send it in a few hours. But even after President Obama signs repeal into law, DADT will still be with us. As you recall, the repeal bill makes an end to DADT contingent upon certification from Secrertary Gates and others before the policy will actually die away. This is to allow the military sufficient time for implementation.
QUESTION: I am a gay service member, can I come out?
The way the repeal has been written, DADT is still technically the law even after the Senate repeals and even after the President has signed the legislation. There will be an implementation period in which DADT is on its way out, but is still law of the land. That should give some of us caution about coming out. If you are concerned about this implementation period — a fair concern given the history of the military’s treatment of gays in the past — use your judgment. There are policies in place that suggest that discharges may be less likely, or may not even happen. But that will be up to the DOD and the service branches. Nothing in the law right now says that you should come out.
QUESTION: I was in the Armed Services and was discharged for being gay. Can I re-enlist?
I already know of people who will try to re-enlist, and there is no logical reason why you should be turned away. I imagine that after the bill is signed, the service chiefs or the Department of Defense will issue memoranda to service recruiters saying that they should admit openly gay individuals who seek enlistment. Out of sn abundance of caution, I would wait for those explicit directives.
Hal-Lee-Lou-Yuh!
One of our long, national nightmares is over.
A great day for our rights.
And, thank goodness I’m too old to be drafted.
– Michael Strangeways
