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U.S. Military Gay Ban Formally Lifted

September 20, 2011

The U.S. ban on gays serving openly in America's armed forces has officially been lifted.

President Barack Obama in January signed the legislation ending the previous policy, which came in during the Clinton administration of the 1990s and was known as "don't ask, don't tell" about a military service member's sexuality. That policy was a response to a policy that asserted that homosexuality was incompatible with military service.

More than 14,000 people were expelled from the U.S. military under the rule due to disclosures about their sexuality.

In preparation for the lifting of the ban, U.S. defense officials say all branches of the military have spent months updating regulations and training service members.

The lifting of the ban has also halted all pending investigations and other proceedings that were begun under the old law.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us_military_ban_on_gays_formally_lifted/24333747.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.