WASHINGTON | Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:05pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A White House-backed bid to end the ban against
gays serving openly in the military cleared an important Senate
Republican hurdle on Saturday, advancing a major step toward becoming law.

Supporters mustered more than the needed 60 votes in the 100-member
Senate, 63-33, to limit debate on the legislation to lift the
17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell," policy. Six Republicans joined the
Senate Democratic majority to support repeal.

The Senate is expected to give it final congressional approval as early
as Sunday, clearing the way for President Barack Obama to sign it into
law. The House of Representatives passed the bill earlier this week.

Obama vowed during his 2008 presidential campaign to end the ban, which
he denounced as unfair, unwise and a violation of basic human rights. He
had been facing criticism from liberal groups who said he failed to push
hard enough to end the policy.

At least 13,000 men and women have been expelled from the military under
"don't ask, don't tell," which allows gays to serve in the armed forces
as long as they keep their sexual orientation secret.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other supporters of the repeal argued
it would allow for a more orderly transition for the military than would
occur if it was delayed until the likely court-ordered end to the policy.

Once it is enacted into law, as anticipated, the Pentagon will have an
undetermined amount of time -- possibly months -- to educate service
members and prepare for the policy change before it is ready to
'certify' the repeal.

When the repeal is certified, there will be another 60-day period before
the new policy of allowing gays to openly serve takes effect. Until that
time "don't ask don't tell" is still in effect.

"The only method of repeal that places the timing of the repeal and
control of implementation in the hands of the military leaders is
enactment of this bill," said Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee.

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About time.