U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D—NY, offered "I applaud my colleagues on the committee for doing what’s right, and voting to put America’s national security before all else."

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell is wrong for our national security and is inconsistent with the moral foundation upon which our country was founded. Each time we discharge a member of our Armed Services just because of who they are, we weaken our military and our national security. It’s time now for Congress to fully repeal this disastrous policy."

Gillibrand added "When we repeal this policy – and we will repeal this policy — we will strengthen America - both militarily and morally."

The amendment, which was offered by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and strongly supported by Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), passed by a vote of 16 - 12.

"This initial victory today in the Senate Armed Services Committee is an historic first step forward in the drive to finally get the onerous Don't Ask, Don't Tell law off the books forever," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army interrogator who was discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. "All of us who have served under Don't Ask, Don't Tell and who have been impacted by this law will remember this day as the beginning of the end for Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 would repeal 10 U.S.C. 654, the basis of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' after the completion of the Pentagon's Comprehensive Review Working Group study and after a certification is made by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the study's recommendations for an implementation management plan are sufficient.

Nicholson added, "We are especially grateful to the courageous members on the Senate Armed Services Committee who took a principled stand and voted for this amendment, which fully respects the ongoing study, the Pentagon leadership, and the men and women of the U.S. military. We would especially like to express our sincere appreciation for the tireless efforts of Senator Levin, Senator Lieberman, Senator Udall, and Senator Gillibrand and their staff in working to secure the support to make this first victory a reality today."

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, released a statement today by Army veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:

"The Senate Armed Services Committee passed a historic roadmap to allowing open military service, but it doesn’t end the discharges. It is important for all gay and lesbian, active-duty service members, including the reserves and the national guard, to know they’re at risk. They must continue to serve in silence under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law that remains on the books. Congress and the Pentagon need to stay on track to get repeal finalized, hopefully no later than first quarter 2011. The bottom line: gay and lesbian service members remain at risk for discharge and cannot serve openly."

"Chairman Carl Levin and Senator Joe Lieberman showed remarkable courage and steadfastness in the face of unprecedented and inappropriate last minute lobbying by the Pentagon service chiefs who seemed to have forgotten that they are not the policy makers here. That role in our government rightly belongs to Congress and it was properly exercised today, and is being exercised now as the full House debates to dismantle Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."

Repeal is moving forward with the support of the President and the Pentagon, including JCS Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The repeal amendment allows for legislative action that respects the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service for lesbian and gay service members. Nothing would happen until the Pentagon Working Group completes its report and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President certifies repeal. —Tim Moran