SANTA BARBARA, CA., – The following statement can be attributed to Christopher Neff, Deputy Executive Director of the Palm Center:

“The U.S. Senate vote today against proceeding to debate on the Defense bill was a vote against openly gay service. There is no legal or military rationale for the current law, only prejudice. It is now up to our civil leaders to consider every available legislative, executive and judicial option to move beyond ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Today’s vote leaves the United States alone in the western world in its ban of gay service. Our foreign peers remain Bulgaria, Jordan, Poland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.”