Some good news (for once).

Would it be in bad taste to say this is FABULOUS?

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/18/senate.dadt/index.html?hpt=T2

The military's prohibition of openly gay people serving within its ranks is one step closer to ending, after the Senate voted Saturday to repeal the armed forces' "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Eight Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut joined the chamber's Democrats to back the legislation, which passed by a 65-31 margin. The bill needed a simple majority -- meaning support from 51 of the Senate's 100 members -- to pass.

"I want to thank all of the gay men and women who are fighting for us today," said Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, one of several Republicans who voted for the measure. "We honor your service, and now we can do so openly."

Note the Republican support, small as it was, was very significant - as demographic changes undermine the old certainties, it may well be that some GOPers are realising the importance of wooing the gay vote. All those gay/lesbian soldiers, sailors and airmen, it seems, can finally come out of their Log Cabins.