Repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell: A Historic Day for the Military

Several days ago, we commented on President Obama's long-awaited announcement to move toward a repeal of the U.S. military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Today, we have word from top defense officials that the military will no longer, according to the Washington Post, "no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members whose orientation is revealed against their will by third parties." 

As we did in our last post, we turn to our friends at the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network for this assessment of this historic day for the military. Being able to serve in the military, without fear of being discharged for one's sexual orientation, makes a major statement to the rest of the world about the kind of nation we are -- not afraid to embrace diversity, not afraid to do what's right for equality's sake.

We're particularly proud of Secretary Gates' stance on this issue. As the cabinet member overseeing the military, it will be up to him to coordinate all the initiatives required in the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Certainly, it won't be an easy task to implement everything that needs to be implemented in the transition. But it's an important one, and we're pleased that Secretary Gates appears up to the task.