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Moments ago, the US Senate voted 65-31 to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning gays in military, sends to President Obama to sign.

Media Statement December 18, 2010 Today, the Senate took a key vote that will lead to the end of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy that has resulted in the firing of 14,000+ service members. The policy, passed 17 years ago, has forced tens-of thousands more American troops to lie in order to serve their country.

Moments ago, the Senate took a key vote that will lead to the end of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy that has resulted in the firing of 14,000+ service members. The policy, passed 17 years ago, has forced tens-of thousands more American troops to lie in order to serve their country. DADT has not been repealed. Today's actions by the Senate simply allows repeal efforts to move forward. A final vote on the bill will occur later today, but the 63-33 vote for cloture all but assures passage of the repeal measure.

From the New York Times

Martin Gill, the plaintiff in the successful legal challenge to Florida's anti-gay adoption ban, will be attending the White House Holiday Reception today, Dec. 16th.

UPDATE: Florida Senator Bill Nelslon has signed on as a sponsor of stand alone legislation to repeal the anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy.Click here to send a thank you letter to Senator Nelson for signing on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill S4023.

UPDATE: The US House of Representatives has passed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal bill by a vote of 250-175. Now the bill heads to the Senate where key Senator Olympia Snowe has pledged support. The US House of Representatives is discussing the stand alone "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal bill right now.

We've all seen the recent headlines regarding the string of LGBTQ youth who have committed suicide after suffering relentless bullying. As part of their commitment to ending marginalization of all peoples, the Holocaust Memorial Center has sponsored a series of community events dedicated to eradicating bullying against all youth. The events will feature a nationally recognized speaker on bullying, John Halligan. Halligan's own son committed suicide after being bullied, he's been featured on programs like the Oprah Winfrey Show.

The Advocate is reporting the House will vote today on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" stand alone bill that was introduced yesterday.

Today a stand alone "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal bill was introduced into the US House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Murphy and cosponsored by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, is identical to the Senate repeal bill that was introduced on Friday by Sen. Joe Lieberman and Sen. Susan Collins.

Moments ago, by a vote of 57-40, the Senate defeated a motion to reconsider the National Defense Authorization Act, which included language to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The vote was largely along party lines, although Sen. Collins from Maine did vote in favor.

A Vote On DADT Today?

By Virginia Chamlee

From the Associated Press:

Watch the Armed Services Committee discuss "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and the study done by the military.

Last night the Illinois State House of Representatives passed a historic civil unions bill. The bill was sponsored by openly gay Representative, Greg Harris.

Check out this article from the Jacksonville Times Union. As demand for medication assistance has gone up, funding for this program has gone down.