Read the NYTimes report on the historic vote in the Senate. Having already been passed by members of the US House of Representatives, the bill will now go to President Obama for his signature.

Let’s remember the early leadership role played by former Congressman and now UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan on this issue. Here’s the record (slightly out of date) according to Wikipedia:

Meehan ran for the U.S. House in the 1992 election and was elected on November 3, 1992. He took office in January 1993. … He has also been noted for his activism on gay rights issues; for example, Meehan is the chief sponsor of the measure repealing the don’t ask, don’t tell policy. … Before leaving office, Meehan worked with former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva and a bipartisan group of representatives to Capitol Hill to reintroduce the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, legislation that would repeal the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay service members.