Pentagon to Relax 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
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The controversial 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy that prevents gays from openly serving in the military is expected to see two significant changes, reports The Boston Globe. While overturning the policy entirely would require legislative action, the Pentagon is expected to ease the rule by no longer allowing third parties (such as spouses or non-military informants) to trigger an investigation of a service member by saying they are gay, and by only permitting generals and admirals to determine whether someone should be discharged because of sexual preference.
By barring third-party testimony from initiating investigations of service members’ sexual orientation, the Pentagon could cut down on the “witch hunts’’ that gay rights advocates say have resulted in the ouster of soldiers who have followed the policy by keeping their private lives private.
Meanwhile, requiring more-senior officers to review proposed discharges would probably mean that fewer discharge cases - only those in which soldiers have flagrantly violated the policy - would be brought forward, according to specialists.
Read more about this policy, and why it is antithetical to the true spirit of conservatism.
