Don't Ask Don't Tell

Stories

13 Stories

July 2008
- Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked
  
  Washington Post | Jul 24, 08 11:54 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Don’t ask Elaine Donnelly what she thinks of gays in the military—she’ll tell you. Congress made that mistake yesterday, and the anti-gay activist let out what Dana Milbank of the Washington Post calls an “extraordinary exhibition of rage.” Donnelly warned the panel of the “HIV positivity,” “forcible sodomy,” and “exotic forms of sexual expression” that would no doubt flourish in an outed military. More »
- Americans Now Favor 'Don't Ask, Do Tell'
  
  Washington Post | Jul 19, 08 8:32 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - In the 15 years since the inception of the US military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay servicemen and women, public opinion on the issue has shifted dramatically. In 1993, 44% of Americans said openly gay people should be allowed to enlist; a Washington Post -ABC News poll now puts that number at 75%. More »
- Brass: Let Gays Serve Openly
  
  Associated Press | Jul 8, 08 2:40 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Four high-ranking retired military officers have called on Congress to repeal the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy, saying that it makes it extremely difficult for gays in the US military, reports AP. Allowing gays to serve openly would not undermine the morale, discipline or effectiveness of units in combat, they concluded, after conducting a study for a California-based research center. More »
June 2008
- Lesbians Bear Brunt of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
  
  New York Times | Jun 23, 08 8:08 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Debates about gays in the military have focused on men, but new information reveals that lesbians have faced much greater "don't ask, don't tell" challenges. Although women make up only 15% of Army and Air Force personnel, nearly half of the soldiers and airmen discharged for open homosexuality were women. Both the military and gay rights groups are uncertain of what causes the disparity. More »
April 2008
- Obama Wouldn't Give Chiefs Gay 'Litmus Test'
  
  Associated Press | Apr 10, 08 2:51 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Barack Obama said he wouldn't require top military appointees to support letting open homosexuals serve, stressing that his priority for Joint Chiefs of Staff is the ability to protect the country. Speaking to a gay magazine, the candidate called “don’t ask, don’t tell” a “counterproductive strategy,” adding he’d ban workplace discrimination against gays and get federal benefits for couples in civil unions. More »
December 2007
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Go!
  
  CBS | Dec 14, 07 5:08 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The US military, whose resources are stretched overseas, has become far more tolerant of gays. One Army sergeant turned over a video of a passionate kiss with his boyfriend to superior officers and was merely told to go back to work, according to a "60 Minutes" investigation to be aired Sunday. "I don't care if you're gay or not," he said one officer told him. More »
November 2007
- Vets, Activists Fight 'Don't Ask'
  
  Army Times | Nov 30, 07 5:21 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - A gay rights coalition marked today, the 14th anniversary of the enactment of “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” with a renewed push against the law. Activists planted 12,000 American flags on the National Mall to commemorate the troops discharged under the policy and sent an open letter to Congress signed by 28 retired generals and officers urging its repeal, the Army Times reports. More »
October 2007
- Whoops! Uncle Sam Doesn't Want You
  
  USA Today | Oct 18, 07 1:29 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The US Army, Navy and Air Force were surprised Tuesday to learn they'd been advertising thousands of jobs on GLEE.com, a gay networking website included in job-listing giant Monster.com's "diversity and inclusion" package. The website is at odds with the military's exclusionary "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bars openly homosexual people from the armed services, USA Today writes. More »
August 2007
- Dems Raise Rainbow Flags
  
  Politico | Aug 2, 07 3:10 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - It's only been 3 years since the Kerry campaign stumped for an anti-gay marriage amendment, but this cycle's Democrats are hopping on the rainbow bandwagon. The Politico's Ben Smith says the 2008 Dems are proud to be pro-gay, showcasing their full support of rights for same-sex couples—as long as the term “marriage" isn't involved, that is. More »
May 2007
- Gays In The British Military, A Different Approach
  
  palmcenter.org | May 15, 07
  
  The British military has allowed gays to serve openly since 2000. In fact, the [British Ministry of Defense says that ] "since lifting of the ban... there has been no impact on operational effectiveness or personnel management. Business continues as normal."
March 2007
- Pace: Homosexuality Is "Immoral"
  
  Chicago Tribune | Mar 13, 07 10:10 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - "Don't ask, don't tell" works fine for Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, because "homosexual acts are immoral" and should not be condoned any more than adultery within the ranks. Pace defended the Pentagon's current policy on gays to the Chicago Tribune , opposing proposed legislation that would repeal the ban. More »
- Reexamining "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
  
  Time | Mar 13, 07
  
  The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff causes many to re-examine Don't Ask Don't Tell when he told a newspaper: "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."
February 2007
- ABC News: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Revisited
  
  ABC News | Feb 28, 07
  
  First marine wounded in Iraq is gay and tells his story.