The full U.S. Senate could take up repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban on open gays in the military as soon as June 18.
The measure, which is attached to the bill that funds the U.S. military for 2011, has passed a Senate committee and the full House of Representatives, but still could encounter resistance.
“Even with a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority, SLDN and our repeal allies will be closely watching for any crippling amendments offered on the (Senate) floor and a ‘motion to strike’ that could allow repeal opponents to remove the repeal language from the defense bill,” said the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has threatened a filibuster.
At the same time, President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the entire military spending bill because he opposes an item in it unrelated to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
If Obama vetoed the bill, it would start its journey through Congress anew and could need new votes on amendments to repeal DADT.
If Congress passes DADT repeal and Obama signs it, nothing will happen right away. That’s because of language in the bill that delays repeal until three things take place: the Pentagon completes a study by Dec. 1 on how to implement DADT repeal; Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen certify that the military will not be harmed by implementing DADT repeal in accord with the Pentagon’s plans; and 60 additional days pass after the certification.
The earliest that gay people in the military might be able to safely come out of the closet would be sometime in February of next year.
—Assistance: Bill Kelley