After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks.

Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Some in Congress still oppose the change, but top Pentagon leaders have certified that it will not undermine the military's ability to recruit or to fight wars.

The Army was distributing a business-as-usual statement Tuesday saying simply, "The law is repealed," and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.


Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, scheduled a Pentagon news conference to field questions about the repeal. And a bipartisan group of congressional supporters of allowing openly gay service planned a news conference on Capitol Hill.

Gay advocacy groups planned a series of celebrations across the country.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Monday that the military is adequately prepared for the end of the current policy, commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell," under which gays can serve as long as they don't openly acknowledge their sexual orientation and commanders are not allowed to ask.

"No one should be left with the impression that we are unprepared. We are prepared for repeal," Little said.

Last week, the Pentagon said 97 percent of the military has undergone training in the new law.

For weeks the military services have accepted applications from openly gay recruits, while waiting for repeal to take effect before processing the applications.

With the lifting of the ban, the Defense Department will publish revised regulations to reflect the new law allowing gays to serve openly. The revisions, such as eliminating references to banned homosexual service, are in line with policy guidance that was issued by top Pentagon officials in January, after Obama signed the legislation that did away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

The lifting of the 18-year-old ban also brings a halt to all pending investigations, discharges and other administrative proceedings that were begun under the Clinton-era law.

Existing standards of personal conduct, such as those pertaining to public displays of affection, will continue regardless of sexual orientation.

There also will be no immediate changes to eligibility standards for military benefits. All service members already are entitled to certain benefits and entitlements, such as designating a partner as one's life insurance beneficiary or as designated caregiver in the Wounded Warrior program.

Gay marriage is one of the thornier issues. An initial move by the Navy earlier this year to train chaplains about same-sex civil unions in states where they are legal was halted after more than five dozen lawmakers objected. The Pentagon is reviewing the issue.

Service members who were discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" law will be allowed to re-enlist, but their applications will not be given priority over those of any others with prior military experience who are seeking to re-enlist.

Some in Congress remain opposed to repeal, arguing that it may undermine order and discipline.

A leading advocate, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, said Monday the repeal is overdue.

"Our nation will finally close the door on a fundamental unfairness for gays and lesbians, and indeed affirm equality for all Americans," the California Democrat said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/20/repeal-ban-on-gay-military-service-official-tuesday/#ixzz1YUsHN7GE

Finally, the government stands up for the people who stand up for us and or freedoms.

not a move I agree with

but another historical moment under our current Administration,,, along with healthcare and Osamas death

now if only they could get support to close Gitmo,,,

While this is nice and all as those that serve don't have to be ashamed of who they are anymore, I think it's a smokescreen for the real problem here. That is to say why we're even fighting to start with. THAT is what needs addressing more than any of this other stuff.

Yikes, we actually agree on something!

How is something as much of an issue as this has been since BEFORE these wars, just a smokescreen?

I think this is no more a smokescreen, than homosexuals winning the fight to have homosexuality taken off as a psychological condition.

Things happen simultaneously in life, its not always a matter of trying to decieve or distract.

so now I can be a Romulan openly and join the service? Yay - damm, next thing you know they'll let those low life Klingons in

lol,,,they have always been allowed in

anyone has been allowed in under certain conditions that they could KNOW About and discover through background checks

sexual preference is one of those things, like any other preference, that noone knows until you share it


but once they know, it can change the environment or how they feel around you


like how people felt about michael before and AFTER the allegation that he was some type of pedophile (even though I dont think he was)'

just the mere possibility of an unwanted advance from someone , can change the situation direly


I wouldnt mind showering in front of a gay male, because I would be under the assumption that there wasnt a possibility of an unwanted advance, I likewise would shower in front of a guy that I THOUGHT was a girl, for the same reason

but if I found out that guy was straight, or that woman was a GUY,, that would change my outlook TREMENDOUSLY because of the new concern for the possibility of unwanted advance



,,but I guess the theory is,, if we can ask them to handle giving their lives up on command , they should be able to handle whatever discomforts we ask them to

,,,and maybe they are right,, and maybe they arent,,,only time will tell....

Not surprised you don't understand.........never will till you take off the rose colored glasses.

I meant with regards to issue of them being able to serve openly. THAT's the smokescreen, not the issue of homosexuality itself.

Oh and when it comes to media there are ALWAYS distractions being pushed onto us, just look at all the "celebrity" news peddled daily as an example. While we're all fawning over what star wore what where, they're pulling some bs behind the curtain. Happens all the time.

IM sure some is distraction, and some is just a matter of them not being capable of reporting everything that is going on everywhere at all times,,

and having to prioritize according to what will get viewership, and profits,,

I think you pretty much summed up the entire point in the last part of that. It's about ratings and money. You left out the agenda though, that's a HUGE part of the media. What they put out and don't serves their agendas for what they want us to think and believe.

we just have to be smarter , is all.

I wouldnt discard the WHOLE media, being aware of how and why it works is enough. Being able to think logically and use reason and tell 'opinion' from fact is something else that works wonders.

Once those skills are learned, the media can offer plenty of useful information, regardless of its 'motives'

That's part of the problem, many CAN'T and just believe whatever they're told so they are easy putty to be molded.

What the hell does DADT have to do with MJ?

it has to do with being amongst people in close quarters before and AFTER discovering their gender or preferences

MJ was the same person after the allegation as before but the KNOWLEDGE of that allegation made people more uncomfortable about what his INTENTIONS may be with children around them

LIKEWISE, as a female, I could be around what I thought was a gay male and feel comfortable that there would be no advances, UNLESS I found out he was actually a STRAIGHT guy, , because , even though he is the SAME person I was around before I knew,, KNOWING does change comfort levels and it does change the dynamic just a bit from what it once was (or what it was THOUGHT to be)



its the dilemma I see about being OPEN about preferences, or keeping them private,,,,

It seems to work fine for the militaries of a whole bunch of countries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation_and_military_service
I counted 41. Hopefully, America isn't so "exceptional" that what works for much of the rest of the world won't work here.

Yep. RIP Don't ask, don't tell.

Hey that must mean it is time to Ask and Tell!!