The US Senate has blocked a bid to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the military, thwarting the move with political maneuvering that now puts the issue on a back burner indefinitely.
Democratic supporters of repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy — a 1993 compromise aimed at resolving the thorny issue of gays in the military — ran up against a wall of Republican resistance on Tuesday.
A total of 56 senators to 43 voted to advance debate on the annual Pentagon military spending bill to which the repeal of the ban was attached, falling four short of the 60 votes needed to move forward.
“We’re disappointed at not being able to proceed to the legislation, but we’ll keep trying,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said after Democratic Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln also voted against.
“I think you have in the defense bill obviously very important funding for the priorities of our Pentagon and our troops,” Gibbs said.
Less than two months before mid-term elections, polls show overwhelming US public support for ending the policy that requires members of the military to hide their homosexuality or be dismissed.
Critics charge the ban infringes on civil rights and has harmed US national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops.
Gay rights groups, which mounted an intense lobbying campaign in favor of repeal, were crestfallen by the outcome.
“The senators who led and supported the filibuster effort should be ashamed,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, calling the vote “a disappointment and disservice to our country.”
However, a top general told lawmakers that a Pentagon survey showed US Marines were predominantly opposed to lifting the ban.
“I’ve heard at the Marine bases and the Marine input for the online survey has been predominantly negative,” General James Amos told the Senate Armed Services Committee in written testimony.
Amos said he opposed changing the law, which he described as a “reasonable” compromise.
Top Republican lawmaker John McCain also voted against the repeal, arguing service personnel needed to make their opinion known before action is taken.
“Whether you agree or disagree with this policy ... the Senate should not be forced to make this decision now, before we’ve heard from our troops,” he said.
Pop diva Lady Gaga on Monday threw her full star power behind the efforts to repeal the policy.
“Equality is the prime rib of America,” she told a rally of several hundred people in Portland, Maine. “But because I’m gay I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer.”
She targeted Maine, home to moderate senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, hoping to persuade them to break with the Republicans and vote with Democrats.
However, Collins on Tuesday took issue with moves by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid not to allow Republican amendments to be attached to the draft legislation.
She said while she supported repealing the measure, “it’s simply not fair to block out amendments from people who disagree with my position.”
While Tuesday’s vote leaves the door open for the draft legislation to be brought to the Senate again, the window of opportunity is closing with congressional elections looming.
The Pentagon is carrying out a year-long review into repealing the policy set to be completed before the end of December, which will help draw up new rules for military service.
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