WASHINGTON — The Senate was headed toward a landmark vote today on legislation that would let gays serve openly in the military, testing waning opposition among Republicans and putting Democrats within striking distance of overturning “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Passage would be a historic victory for President Barack Obama, who made repeal of the 17-year-old law a campaign promise in 2008. It also would be a political win for congressional Democrats, who have struggled repeatedly in the final hours of the lame-duck session to overcome Republican objections.
A procedural vote was expected by noon. If at least 60 senators vote to advance the bill as expected, the legislation could pass as early as late afternoon. Republicans could demand extended debate time, but early indications were that they might not draw the process out further.
Gay-rights groups said the vote today is their best shot at changing the law because a new GOP-dominated Congress will take control in January.
Despite signs the bill was close to passage, advocates vowed to leave nothing up to chance and stepped up lobbying efforts in the hours before the vote, including a silent protest in the visitor seats overlooking the Senate floor.
“We simply cannot let the clock run out and lose this historic opportunity,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, whose supporters vowed to sit in the Senate gallery until the law was repealed.
“If senators support repeal, they will vote yes. No more excuses,” Sarvis said.
Repeal would mean that, for the first time in U.S. history, gays would be openly accepted by the military and could acknowledge their sexual orientation without fear of being kicked out.
More than 13,500 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law.
Under the bill, the president and his top military advisers — the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — are required to certify to Congress that lifting the ban won’t hurt troops’ ability to fight. After that, 60 days must pass before any changes go into effect.
The House approved the bill earlier this week by a 250-174 vote. Senate passage would send the bill to the president’s desk.
The bill appeared all but dead earlier this month when Senate Republicans voted for a second time this year to block the measure on procedural grounds.
In recent days, Senate Democrats were able to address many of the procedural objections, including a vote to pass tax-cut legislation. They also stripped the repeal provision from a defense policy bill.
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