THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The US Senate has lifted the controversial ban on gays serving openly in the US military.
The bill will be signed into law this week by President Barack Obama, who made lifting the ban a key campaign pledge.
The repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a major victory for Mr Obama and congressional Democrat leaders and a historic breakthrough for gay rights advocates.
It will also mark a striking cultural shift for the US armed forces as gays are allowed to serve for the first time without fear of dismissal.
“It is time to close this chapter in our history,” said Mr Obama who has remained in Washington to complete political duties while his family begins their annual Christmas holiday in Hawaii.
“It is time to recognise that sacrifice, valour and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed.” He added that as commander-in-chief, he believed the measure would strengthen the country’s military. >>> | Saturday, December 18, 2010
This is indeed a historic day for gays in America. Congratulations! It is to be hoped that the bigots will now be silenced, once and for all. Congratulations, too, to all Americans for taking one big, bold step into the twenty-first century. It took a long time, but the eventual outcome is just nevertheless. American gays in the military have been downtrodden for a very long time. Enough is enough. It is time to look forward with hope and confidence. I feel sure that this historic decision will only serve to strengthen the US military; and a strong US military is what we all want and need. – © Mark
THE OBSERVER: 'Don't ask, don't tell' overturned by 65-31 majority in Senate, paving way for Obama to sign a law ending the policy this week
The US Senate voted yesterday to repeal the ban on gay people serving openly in the military, paving the way for President Obama to sign a law ending the policy this week.
However, the defence secretary, Robert Gates, who had pushed for the change, warned gay men and women in the military that the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy will remain in effect for some time while the new rules are put in place.
Obama said in a statement: "By ending 'don't ask, don't tell' no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love." Read on and comment >>> Ben Quinn | Sunday, December 19, 2010
None too soon either. Gays in the US military have been downtrodden for far too long.
I'm glad that the US military has decided, at last, to embrace the twenty-first century. Denying people their rights simply because they were born different is, and always has been, unconscionable.
Merry Christmas US gay military! You deserve a damn good celebration. God knows, you've waited long enough for it. – © Mark
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