End to ban on gay people serving in US army
Repeal of the 18-year-old legal ban took effect at 12.01am, ending a prohibition that President Barack Obama said had forced gay and lesbian service members to “lie about who they are”. Some in Congress still oppose the change, but top Pentagon leaders have certified that it will not undermine the military’s ability to recruit or to fight wars.
Obama issued a statement saying he is confident that lifting the ban will enhance US national security.
“As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love,” he said. “As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members.”
The army was distributing a business-as-usual statement yesterday, saying simply: “The law is repealed,” and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.
“From this day forward, gay and lesbian soldiers may serve in our army with the dignity and respect they deserve,” the statement read, signed by secretary John McHugh, chief of staff Raymond Odierno, and the army’s top enlisted soldier, Sergeant Major Raymond Chandler III.
The commander of Air Mobility Command, Raymond Johns, told reporters that repeal is being taken in stride in the Air Force.
“It really hasn’t come up in any significant conversation, Johns said. “It’s not a big deal.”
Gay advocacy groups began a series of celebrations across the country as the ban ended.
At a San Diego bar, current and former troops danced and counted down to midnight. “You are all heroes,” Sean Sala, a former Navy operations specialist, said. “The days of your faces being blacked out on the news — no more.”
The head of Pentagon personnel put out a memo to the workforce at 12.01am. “All service members are to treat one another with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation,” the memo from Clifford Stanley said.
“The Department of Defense is committed to promoting an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers that prevent service members from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible regardless of sexual orientation.”
