WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Future discharges of homosexual military personnel must be approved by the secretaries of the services involved, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.
The directive, released Thursday, is expected to provide additional protection for gay soldiers and sailors under the "don't ask, don't tell policy." Gates said the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force must also consult the Defense Department's general counsel and the undersecretary for personnel and readiness, The Hill reported.
The Obama administration supports repealing the policy, which was adopted under President Bill Clinton. But the Justice Department also sought and was granted a stay this week of a judge's order barring its enforcement.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which this week advised gay military personnel to stay in the closet until the issue is resolved, once again advised them to be cautious.
"This important change could dramatically reduce DADT discharges," Aubrey Sarvis, the network's executive director, said of Gates's directive. "But this Pentagon guidance memo does not end DADT. It is still in place, and service members should not come out."
