Gays in the Military

The policy of homosexuality in the U.S. military is most commonly described with the phrase "Don't ask, don't tell." Official U.S. law states that anyone demonstrating intent to engage in homosexual acts is prohibited from military service for reasons of morality, order and overall "cohesion." In other words, homosexuals are not to speak of their sexual preference while serving the armed forces, though the military will not ask whether recruits are gay.

On March 2, 2009, Democratic Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher introduced a bill seeking to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military. During his campaign, President Obama promised to support a repeal of the policy which bans openly gay servicemen and women from serving in the military. House conservatives are expected to fight to stop the repeal, fearing a change in policy would "damage morale".SF Gate: Tauscher moves to end gay ban (March 2, 2009)

On December 15, 2010 the House approved the legislation that would repeal the law that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013690496_dontask16.html The vote was 250-175 for repeal with 15 Republicans voted for the bill, while 15 Democrats voted against it.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013690496_dontask16.html Democrat Brian Baird and Republican Cathy McMorris Rogers did not vote.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013690496_dontask16.html The Senate will vote the following week on the bill.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013690496_dontask16.html

President Barack Obama has vowed to abolish current law which bans publicly homosexuals from active military duty. Although at the time, one of the Obama campaigns keynote issues, reports claim that action might not be taken on the issue until at least 2010.SF Gate: Tauscher moves to end gay ban (March 2, 2009)