The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to end the US military ban on gays serving openly, leaving it to the Senate to seize what backers of repeal say may be their last chance for years.
US President Barack Obama, in a statement shortly after the vote, called ending the prohibition "the right thing to do" and said all those who risk their lives for their country must be "treated fairly and equally."
By a 250-175 margin, the House approved a stand-alone bill to scrap the 1993 policy, popularly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that requires gays to keep quiet about their sexual orientation or face dismissal.
"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' doesn't contribute to our national security and it contravenes our American values," Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, charging the policy had led to the ouster of 13,000 US troops.
"Fighter pilots, infantry officers, Arabic translators and other specialists have been discharged at a time when our nation is fighting two wars," in Iraq and Afghanistan, she said on the floor of the House.
Identical legislation was pending in the Senate, where its prospects were uncertain amid a rapidly ticking year-end legislative clock, a packed agenda, and a 60-vote threshold for overcoming likely parliamentary delaying tactics.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he wants to vote on the measure before year's end, citing a major shift in the balance of power when a new US Congress musters in early January.
Republicans, who are broadly opposed to the repeal, will retake the House of Representatives and see their numbers grow in the Senate as a result of romping over Democrats in November 2 elections.
The incoming House Armed Services Committee chair, Republican Representative Buck McKeon, accused Democrats of forging ahead with repeal "in complete disregard for the concerns of those actually in the combat arms."
McKeon cited testimony from US military service chiefs who warned against a quick repeal, citing concerns about unit cohesion.
General James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps and an opponent of lifting the ban, warned Tuesday that ending the ban could jeopardize the lives of Marines in combat by undermining closely knit units.
"I don't want to lose any Marines to distraction. I don't want to have any Marines that I'm visiting at Bethesda (hospital) with no legs," he told reporters this week.
The legislation envisions lifting the ban only after the president, the secretary of defense, and the top US uniformed officer certify that doing so can be done without harming military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.
The repeal effort enjoys broad support from the US public, as well as from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the top US uniformed officer, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen.
Gates is "pleased" by the House vote and "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," said spokesman Geoff Morrell.
The Pentagon issued a study this month that found a solid majority of troops were not bothered by the prospect of lifting the ban and that the military could implement the change without a major disruption or upheaval.
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