The U.S. Senate has voted in favor of
moving ahead with repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the ban on
gay troops serving in the military.
After passage of the DREAM Act failed,
senators voted in favor of ending debate on a standalone version of
the bill. The
final 63 to 33 tally included more Republicans than previously
expected.
“Today is a very sad day,” Arizona
Senator John McCain said before senators voted.
“It's time to right a wrong and put
the military in line with the best of American values,” Connecticut
Senator Joe Lieberman said on the floor.
Lieberman,
along with Senators Mark Udall of Colorado, Susan Collins of Maine
and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, sponsored the standalone version
of the bill after Senate Republicans, led by McCain, twice
blocked passage of a defense bill that included language to repeal
the law.
The Pentagon's top military leaders and
President Obama have backed repeal of the law that has ended the
military careers of over 13,000 service members.