Noteboom The Law Firm

Senate Sends Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal To the President’s Desk

December 20, 2010 - There is but one step to overcome for gay soldiers to be able to openly serve in the United States military. The Senate voted this last weekend in favor of repealing the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) law. The last step for making this bill into law is President Obama's signature, which the White House Press Secretary assured via Twitter would be on the bill.

Although only a majority was required to pass bill, 8 Republicans and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) voted to pass the bill through the Senate with a 65-31 margin. Once the go-ahead is given for the necessary changes, Defense Secretary Robert Gates plans on meeting with the military's top commanders to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. The Senate voting to pass the DADT repeal allows the military to make the necessary changes on their own timetable instead of having a timetable imposed on them. Unfortunately until the final changeover takes place, DADT will remain an enforceable law.

Advocates of repealing the DADT law really wanted this bill to be voted on before the incoming Congress was seated. The new Congress would likely not vote to pass the DADT repeal as it will have a more conservative focus. The timing, then, for the advocates of the DADT repeal was perfect. Further, the Senate voting to pass the DADT repeal allays fears that challenges to the law would be handled in the court systems and abstract holdings therefore prevented.

In the end, Congress believed repealing the DADT law would provide this country with a stronger military. People willing to die for this country will no longer have to live in fear their career could be ended because of their sexual orientation.