Washington, October 20: The US military says it will accept soldiers who openly admit to being homosexual after a court ruling against the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
“Recruiters have been given guidance, and they will process applications for applicants who admit they are openly gay or lesbian,” AFP quoted Cynthia Smith, a spokeswoman for the US military as saying.
The move comes after a California judge ruled against the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, calling it illegal, the US media reported on Tuesday.
The law has barred admitted homosexuals from serving in the armed forces for the past 17 years.
The US Defense Department, however, says it is appealing against the lifting of the ban and has warned gay recruits that the law could be reinstated pending future court decisions.
Opponents of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule say it violates the rights of gay service members, arguing that it harms national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops.
Advocates of the ban, however, maintain that it ensures unit cohesion.
The decision has also been favored by Pentagon chief Robert Gates and US President Barack Obama who had previously called for scrapping the 1993 law and tried to persuade Congress to end the barring.
——–Agencies