Asking and Telling....

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Gates: Repeal military's 'Don't Ask, Don’t Tell' gay policy by year’s end

Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he wants Congress to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by the end of the year.

Gates' statement came during the first hearing on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 17 years. The hearing is before the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit.

Gates said the policy, enacted in 1993, is unfair toward gays and lesbians and should be removed. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" mandates discharge for any servicemen and women who reveal publicly that they're gay.

Since Congress and former President Bill Clinton enacted the law, more than 14,000 discharges have resulted.

 

Gates said he has appointed a "high-level working group" to discuss potential issues surrounding repealing the policy, which would include questions such as what timeline for the repeal would make the most sense and whether the Pentagon would begin offering benefits for gay and lesbian partners of military members.

He said high-ranking military officials will report back to him in 45 days on ways to relax "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" within the existing law. Gates said he believes there is "existing latitude" within that law to discuss changes.

Levin said he supports the change.

"I agree with what President Obama said in his State of the Union address," Levin said. " ... The American public overwhelmingly supports the rights of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military."

Obama called on Congress to repeal the law during his first such address on Capitol Hill last week.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he was disappointed by Gates' plans to begin planning for the repeal, and indicated he intends to oppose any Congressional move to change the policy.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100202/POLITICS03/2020406/1022/rss10#ixzz0eRVIWM01


From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100202/POLITICS03/2020406/1022/rss10#ixzz0eRV0YAEy
 

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100202/POLITICS03/2020406/1022/rss10#ixzz0eRV0ijg7