Repeal of military's gay ban moves forward
By KEGAN ZEMA | June 2, 2010
A deal between the Obama administration, congressional Democrats, and the Pentagon that will repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning homosexuals from serving openly in the US military was approved last week by the House and the Senate Armed Services Committee, though action by the full Senate may not come for months.Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have supported the idea in principle, but have both suggested waiting until a December report on a survey gauging military personnel's reactions has been released.
But a pre-midterm-election push toward repeal — that would not take effect until the military's report is out — has moved forward with Obama's approval. "We are fairly confident that this will allow for repeal to go forward and allow the Pentagon to be comfortable," said Brian Moulton, legislative counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, of the compromise, which prevents the repeal of DADT from taking effect until Obama, Gates, and Mullen all certify that the change would not hurt military readiness.
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