WASHINGTON - The Army secretary said on Wednesday he would not discharge gay personnel who admitted their sexual orientation to him, despite the "don't ask, don't tell" stance that remains official military policy.
"What the secretary (of defense) has placed a moratorium on is going forward on discharges," Army Secretary John McHugh told defense reporters.
The statement seemed to indicate that some Pentagon leaders had already shifted their stance, at least regarding private admissions by gay troops, although Congress has not yet formally repealed the law banning declared homosexuals.
President Barack Obama has stated his determination to scrap the "don't ask, don't tell" policy initiated in 1993, which allows gays to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual identity secret. The Defense Department is currently surveying troops about the possible impact of a repeal and aims to conclude its study by December.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36118600/ns/us_news-military/
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