Legal news for government attorneys. Top defense officials declared that they are taking steps to remove the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Government lawyers alert- President Obama plans to repeal the military’s disciplinary actions based on sexual orientation.
Washington, D.C.—Following President Obama’s pledge during last weeks State of the Union address, top defense officials will take steps to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The defense officials spoke with the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, informing them that the U.S. Military will “no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members who orientation is revealed against their will by third parties,” as reported by The Washington Post.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen announced in a testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that they will create a group to determine how to fully repeal the 1993 “don’t as, don’t tell” policy, which had kept gay military men and women from disclosing their sexual orientation. It could reportedly take an unknown number of years to integrate gay men and lesbian women into the military, according to the defense officials. Other issues were addressed as well, like “whether gay soldiers sailors, airmen, and Marines will face any restriction on exhibiting their sexual orientation on the job; whether the pentagon will be obligated to provide for their domestic partners; and whether straight military personnel could be compelled to share quarters with gays.” Mullen stated during the Senate hearing that, “No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.”
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for government lawyers.
