Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and
President Barack Obama are urging the Senate to follow in the House's
footsteps and repeal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
On Wednesday, lawmakers
in the House approved a bill that would end the military's ban on gay
and bisexual troops serving openly.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where
Republicans, led by Arizona Senator John McCain, have twice before
united to block its passage.
Gates “encourages the Senate to pass
the legislation this session, enabling the Department of Defense to
carefully and responsibly manage a change in this policy instead of
risking an abrupt change resulting from a decision in the courts,”
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.
In a statement released Wednesday,
Obama praised the vote: “I applaud the House for passing, with
bipartisan support, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.”
“Legislative repeal is supported by
the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. The process contained in this legislation allows for a smooth
and responsible repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in a way that
maintains good order and discipline in our military ranks.”
Obama added that ending the law is “not
only the right thing to do, it will also give our military the
clarity and certainty it deserves.”