Gay troops cheer ‘don't ask, don’t tell’ court ruling

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gay-troops-cheer-dont-ask-dont-tell-court-ruling/2011/07/07/gIQAGrte2H_story.html

BAGHDAD – Gay U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan said Thursday that a federal appeals court order to stop enforcement of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy puts them one step closer to revealing their sexual orientation without fear of retribution or dismissal.

A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Wednesday ordered the Pentagon to cease investigations and discharges of service members in violation of the gay ban. The ruling noted that the Obama administration has said it thinks another federal law — the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages — is unconstitutional.

.The Defense Department will comply with the court order and took steps late Wednesday to begin informing the forces of the change, according to Marine Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman.

But plans to end the ban on gays in uniform, as outlined in a law passed in December, will continue as scheduled, senior military officials said Thursday.

The law requires every man and woman serving in military uniform to complete training courses about the end of the policy before its repeal. Military officials said President Obama will certify “in the coming weeks” that the military has completed the training courses and is ready to end the ban.

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which began in late 1993, will officially end 60 days after Obama’s written certification.