Homosexuals could soon be allowed to openly serve in the US Military. President Barack Obama has called for an end to the controversial “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy currently preventing US military from revealing their sexuality. “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” he said recently.
Obama’s announcement was received well with The Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights group in the US. "Our country simply cannot afford this discriminatory law that hurts military readiness by denying patriotic men and women the opportunity to serve," the group's president, Joe Solmonese, said.
Department of Defence officials have, however, asked the government to exercise caution. They are working on the internal procedures that will allow the complete repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy but say any change should be taken slowly.
Senator John McCain, Obama’s rival in the 2008 election, was also not in favour of the law. “This successful policy has been in effect for over 15 years and it is well understood and predominantly supported by our military at all levels,” he said.