The 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" law bans openly gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the United States armed forces.
It is no surprise that the law, which banned openly gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from military service and military academies, still casts a shadow.
As defense secretary under President Barack Obama, Gates helped change the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay soldiers.
Notably, in 1993 he helped author "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the policy that banned openly gay men and women from serving in the military, and he later voted (2010) against its repeal.
WASHINGTON — President Obama and top Pentagon officials met repeatedly over the past year about repealing "don't ask, don't tell," the law that bans openly gay members of the military.
The Palm Center has no official position on "don't ask, don't tell," the American law that bans openly gay service members, but the group has become a leading force among advocates for repeal.
The two-month waiting period is called for in the legislation passed late last year that ended "don't ask, don't tell," the 17-year-old law that banned openly gay men, lesbians and bisexuals from military service.
THE NEWS A federal judge ordered the United States military to stop enforcing the "don't ask, don't tell" law, which bans openly gay men and women from serving.
"My administration remains fully committed to continuing the successful implementation of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the president said in his statement, referring to the former policy that banned openly gay and lesbian troops from serving in the military.
Ms. Fulton, 52, will arrive just in time to help guide the academy and its superintendent, Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, through the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military — or from attending military academies like West Point.
