Service chiefs to testify before Congress on gay ban

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Posted: 02/22/2010 01:00:00 AM MST


WASHINGTON — Lawmakers this week will press the military's top uniformed officers for the first time on whether they think repealing "don't ask, don't tell" makes sense or would be too disruptive.

The testimony from each of the service chiefs on Capitol Hill will be crucial to the debate in Congress on whether to repeal the 17-year-old law, which bans gays serving in the military from being open about their sexuality.

President Barack Obama says the policy unfairly punishes patriots who want to serve their country. Defense Secretary Robert Gates agrees and has begun a year-long study on how to mitigate the impact of lifting the ban.

Reversing the ban, which is based on a 1993 law and would require an act of


Providing much-needed political cover is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, who has said he thinks the law unfairly forces gay service members to compromise their integrity by lying about who they are.



Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14445797#ixzz0gFbVATbX


Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14445797

[JI7]

1. how about asking whether nations that allow gays to serve openly

should be allowed in our "coalition" in Iraq or whatever else we do ?

ask those who don't support gays in the military whether they are ok with Americans serving alongside Israeli soldiers, British Soldiers, Canadian soldiers etc ?

[bluestateguy]

2. Is this good or bad?

We have built a lot of momentum in recent weeks with endorsements from Colin Powell, Adm. Mullen and even the Cheneys. That could be undercut if the USMC Commandant comes before Congress and says that he opposes repeal.

[BR_Parkway]

3. It'd ba a hoot if the Marines turned out to look like the group most afraid of it

In reality, seems like there are more closeted gays in the Marines