Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repealed

The Senate and House have voted to end the 17-year military ban on gay men and women serving openly in the US armed forces.

Eight Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman joined Senate Democrats to pass repeal, 65-31. President Obama is expected to sign the bill next week.

The repeal follows an exhaustive year-long survey of 400,000 military service members and top brass, which indicated that over 70% believe a repeal of DADT would have either "a positive effect or no effect on their ability to complete missions."

Public opinion polling as of November showed that 78% of Americans were in favor of repeal.

Hasn't this been over-turned and reinstated multiple times already? Is it really over, finally?

So much for that "When the rights of a minority is up to vote, its never passed." thing.

Seems like the world is finally taking steps in the right direction against prejudice and bigotry

This is good news.

Good news IMO. I'm in the British military where homosexuals can openly serve. I'm straight but have alot of great gay friends in the forces. This can only be a good thing

Hopefully one more step in the right direction for American society.

There's so much unnecessary anxiety and fear about gays in the USA.

I'm really not sure what people are so afraid of.

I've never met a gay man that has made advances on a straight man. I've never met a gay man that openly or outwardly bears any ill will towards straight men.

Sure, there are some VERY effeminate gay men out there, but I highly doubt they'll be the ones clamoring to join the military.

I have. But I don't view it as any worse than a chick who makes advances on a man who doesn't want her..

I'm happy about this. I have 2 gay friends in the military, so I'm glad that they can be themselves now... but I'm nervous about how others in the military are going to treat them. Not everyone is going to be respectful about their fellow soldiers coming out, as much as we wish they would be.

Regardless of how the thread debate goes of whether it's right or wrong, the debate's over. The law is passed. The end.

Hopefully years from now we'll look back and wonder what the big deal was.

Already wondering now.

Same. People who are still all up in arms about gay people need to get over it.

Okay, it's inevitable so I'll just go ahead and get it started now...

Religion, go. (we all know it's going to go there)

Since gays are good enough to die for our country now, I wonder if this means they're good enough to be able to enjoy the same benefits and/or hell that comes from marriage.

Nice. It's step in the right direction. Gays have just as much right as any other person. There should not be a label on sexual orientation.

Fixed.

General Petraeus' office, who runs the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, speaking through a senior aide:

"If there are people who cannot deal with the change, then they're going to have to do what's best for their troops and best for the organization... and exit the military service, so that we can move forward."

People are allowed to do what they want to? Wow, amazing, isn't this how America was supposed to be in the first place?

oh search the other gay threads, you'll find one that kills your faith in mankind, i guarantee it.

I like that. I guess the it will be up to the people if they want to use the Get out of jail card, now that they have been given a choice.

Looks like that to me anyways.

I'm sure it doesn't mean that you can simply say you hate gays and be sent out, rather that if the people do not like it they will have to get out on their own accord, such as not re-enlisting.

Oh this is very exciting news! I service beside friends who are homosexuals and it always bothered me that they could lose their clearance or job security because of their sexual orientation. But now a thing of the past. Very exciting.

Ah I read about this in yesterday's paper last night at work. Glad it went through.

not to be depressing debbie, but i personally think this whole situation was a stupid one to begin with. if someone is a homosexual in the military they should keep it to themselves, its no ones business what they do in the bedroom (so long as its legal of course.) to me, the whole LGBT community needs to calm down with the whole oppressed minority act; they should try walking in the shoes of a group like the native americans of the US who are treated like 2nd hand citizens. (the govt can even refuse to recognize your tribes existance... at least LGBT are recognized as an accepted life tyle for the most part..)

hell in some places, LGBT have rights and loopholes that tax payin average joes dont :\. example they get to skip screenings for adoptions here.

Native Americans are allowed to get married and are allowed to adopt kids. Gay people don't get to do either of those things. (the adoption thing in some cases)

Gays in the military, uhm it's been happening for a while now. When you are at sea with other dudes 6 months a year you find out stuff like that and oddly enough I have almost never found a case where anyone really had problems with it. Turns out gay guys aren't all sex starved maniacs who grope away at any ballsack they find, and long as they don't get too flamboyant about it no one really cares what you do outside the ship.

It's good to hear that they can straight up say "I am gay" now and bring their lovahs to the command events etc though, but just know that its not some new earth shattering development.

The law isn't passed until Obama signs it, which is expected to be next week.

There is a 60-day "certification process" where the top brass of each military branch will prepare the service for the transition. Only then will the law be fully in effect. However, the Pentagon is expected to release an order temporarily halting all discharge proceedings under DADT immediately.

It's also important to note this doesn't give gays any special rights -- they are still under all of the standard military rules against sexual harassment, etc, and scrutiny may be quite strict. They are not allowed to act out on their sexuality any more than straight soldiers already are, or face court martial and potential discharge.

I don't hate gays, I was sayingya I hear ya on that. That's right.

We should all be held up to the same values anyways, Right? Should be any different excpectations or any special preferential treamtment.

And when those who do try to keep it to themselves are found out and then tossed on their ***?

As for your comparison to american-indians, nobody ever said that one group has it worse than the others. It's ALL *** wrong. Understand that, ignorant fool.

I wasn't saying you hate gays Neon, and I don't understand why you quoted it twice.