Battle over military’s gay ban to resume in Congress (xpost from Veterans)

Battle over military’s gay ban to resume in Congress
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 3, 2009

WASHINGTON — Congress’ leading opponent of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy on Monday reintroduced legislation to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., backed a similar measure last year. In a statement Monday, she said the policy has "failed our country and military for 15 years" and hurt readiness by preventing qualified citizens from joining the ranks.

The legislation would remove the current rules preventing homosexuals from serving openly in the military and allow anyone discharged under the policy to apply for reinstatement, though details must be worked out.

More than 12,500 troops have been forced out of the military since the policy was put in place in 1994, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a lobbying group that opposes the policy.

During his campaign, President Barack Obama pledged to end the ban on homosexuals serving openly, and the White House Web site lists repealing "don’t ask, don’t tell" as a key goal of Obama’s civil rights platform.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61087