WASHINGTON--the House voted Wednesday to repeal the policy "not requested, not explain", 17 years has forced gay men wishing to serve in the armed forces to hide their sexual identity. 250-175 Vote propels the issue to the Senate for what could be the last chance for the moment to put an end to the 1993 Act which prohibits recruiters ask on sexual orientation, while prohibiting the soldiers to recognize that they are homosexual.
This is "the only law of the country which requires dishonest people or be fired if they choose to be honest," said Rep Jared Polis, D-Colo..
Senate Democratic leaders say they are committed to putting the Bill on the floor before Congress Adjourns for the year. But they are contested by the opposition of some Republicans and a formidable program which includes finishing work on legislation to fund the Government and the ratification of a treaty with the Russia nuclear weapon.
Failure to reverse policy this year may relegate the question of the incinerator return next year when the Republicans, who are much less favourable allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the armed forces, back at home and develop resistance to the Senate.
"It is time for us to act," said Nancy Pelosi Chamber President and "close the door to a fundamental injustice in our country."
Many Republicans led by Senator John McCain of Arizona, argue that it would be an error for the military to undergo a major cultural change while the nation is fighting two wars.
Implementation of a new policy is expected to begin "when our singular focus is more on preparation of combat units or combat operations", said the REP Howard "Buck" McKeon in California, top Republican on the Commission to the armed forces.
The issue was also split the military. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and other senior military leaders support lifting restrictions on gay service, pointing to a recent study by the Pentagon showing most of the people in uniform opposed to serve with gays. But head body marine Commander General James Amos, repeating his opposition this week, saying that the lifting of the ban in time of war could cost lives. "I want to lose any marine to distraction", he said.
The White House, making a statement in support of the repeal, stressed that change would be effective only after the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the chiefs of staff certify the application conforms to the cohesion of preparation, recruitment and retention and military unit.
The House of Commons in May was voted 234-194 to be repealed the law on a draft law of greater defence. Measure blocked twice in the Senate where Republicans have objected to invoice defence laded with contentious issues, including "not, ask explain."
Joe Solmonese, President of the rights of homosexuals, that the human rights campaign said vote Wednesday group means the Chamber confirmed for the second time that military leaders, most of the troops and the American public was told, "the only thing that counts on the battlefield is the ability to do the job."
"It's place in the Senate so that this law has failed and discriminatory to the dustbin of history," added Solmonese.
Home, featuring stand-alone Bill seeks to avoid the complications of combining a General Defense Bill. Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn, are also promoting a stand-alone Bill to the Senate and supporters say that they have the 60 votes for passage if they can get it on the floor of the Senate.
A major obstacle was a Republican commitment to block any legislation until the Senate completes work on taxes and Government funding. The Senate on Wednesday passed the compromise on the extension of tax cuts made by the White House and Republicans.
More than 13,500 military were rejected by the 1993 Act.
Obama, while supporting the repeal, administration is appealing from a decision of a federal judge in California that the ban on gays serving openly in the military is unconstitutional. The administration says that Congress should return to politics. But the rights of homosexuals groups say that they will change their attention to the courts if Congress fails to act.
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The Bill is H.R. 2965.
Online: http://thomas.loc.gov
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