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On 18 Dec 10 US Senators voted decisively 65-31, largely along party lines, for a bill which sets out to overturn the 1993 Don't Ask Don't Tell law, which bars gay people in the military from revealing that they are gay or face administrative discharge. In total over 13,000 service personnel were discharged under DADT purely for having been outed to their employer.

The US House of Representatives had already approved the repeal bill on 15 Dec 10 by a comfortable 250-175 votes, an increase on the 234-194 margin from a vote on an earlier bill.

President Barack Obama says he is looking forward to signing it into law and this will probably take place before the end of 2010. "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 repeal would then take effect following 60-day period to allowing US Department of Defence to work out how to implement the new policy, although much of the work has already taken place during earlier consultation during 2010.

Significantly, following the vote US Defence Secretary stated that "Once this legislation is signed into law by the president, the Department of Defense will immediately proceed with the planning necessary to carry out this change carefully and methodically, but purposefully."

Opponents argue that the change will damage troop morale at a time of war. However, a report commissioned by the DoD reported earlier in Dec 10 that allowing openly gay troops would have little impact on the cohesion of US forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reactions:

OutServe, the US armed forces' Underground Network of LGBT Actvely Serving Personnel said: "Today’s vote by the Senate is a step forward for America. Today our military is stronger, our nation is stronger, and we are closer than ever to the day when our integrity will no longer be compromised. The vote to proceed to cloture on the repeal of the law barring honest military service by lesbian and gay soldiers is a victory for the thousands of lesbian and gay troops currently serving and a tribute to lesbian and gay veterans and those who have lost their lives defending our country."

The Servicemen's Legal Defense Network said: "Gay, lesbian and bisexual service members posted around the world are standing a little taller today, but they’re still very much at risk because repeal is not final ... Even with this historic vote, service members must continue to serve in silence until repeal is final. Certification and the 60-day Congressional requirement must be wrapped up no later than the first quarter of 2011. The bottom line: for now, gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members must remain cautiously closeted."

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona the opposition to the repeal and said the vote was a sad day in history. "I hope that when we pass this legislation that we will understand that we are doing great damage ... As the commandant of the Marine Corps said, and as I have been told by literally thousands of members of the military, [we could] harm the battle effectiveness vital to the survival of our young men and women in the military." He said the change could harm the unit cohesion that is essential to effective military operations, particularly in combat.

President Obama said: "It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly."