Pentagon working on guidance for gays in militar Pentagon working on guidance for gays in military By The Associated Press 10.14.2010 6:00pm EDT (Washington) The White House says the Department of Defense is working on guidance for the entire military on how to deal with a court ruling that tosses out the ban on gays serving openly. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday that guidance will be coming soon. But he wouldn’t say what the policies would be. At issue is a California judge’s ruling ordering the military to immediately suspend the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that says gays may serve in the military only if they don’t disclose their sexual orientation. President Barack Obama has long opposed the policy, but says he wants Congress to repeal the law.

US urges delay in ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ ruling US urges delay in ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ ruling By The Associated Press 10.15.2010 7:34am EDT (Washington) After two days of silence, the Obama administration urged a federal judge on Thursday to let the military press on with its “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military. Still, President Barack Obama insisted the policy that has divided the nation for two decades “will end on my watch.” The Pentagon said the military “will of course obey the law” and halt enforcement while the case is still in question. But gay rights advocates cautioned gay service members to avoid revealing their sexuality in the meantime. A federal judge abruptly threw out the Clinton-era ban on Tuesday, setting in motion a legal, political and human-rights back-and-forth that put the administration on the spot just two weeks before crucial midterm elections. Obama has consistently argued against the ban, approved by Congress in 1993. But he says it is up to Congress to repeal it. The policy, summed up as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” refers to guidance that gay or lesbian Americans can serve in the military but not openly. Their superiors are forbidden to ask about sexual orientation, but service members can be thrown out or denied enlistment if they talk about being gay or let it be known that they engage in homosexual acts. Obama’s Justice Department asked U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips to stay her ruling that overturned the ban while the government prepares a formal appeal. Asking the judge for a response by Monday – “given the urgency and gravity of the issues” – the government said that suddenly ending the ban would be disruptive and “irreparably harm the public interest in a strong and effective military.” Obama, challenged Thursday at a town hall meeting by a Howard University faculty member who questioned his “alleged commitment to equality for all Americans, gay and straight,” said his stance has not wavered. He can’t end the ban with the stroke of a pen, he said, but “we’re going to end this policy.” Full STORY:

these people (politicians) could fuck up a one man parade