Congress to vote on military gay ban

By ANNE FLAHERTY Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is headed toward landmark votes on whether to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

The House was expected to vote as early as Thursday on a proposal by a Pennsylvania Democrat and Iraq war veteran, Congressman Patrick Murphy, that would repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell."

The legislation - a compromise struck with the White House and agreed to by the Defense Department - would give the military as much time as it wants before lifting the ban.

Under the bill, the president and Pentagon officials must first certify that the new policy won't hurt the military's ability to fight.

Also as early as Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee was expected to take up an identical measure.