WASHINGTON - President Obama hailed the military service of gay Americans Wednesday while signing the landmark bill allowing gays to serve openly in uniform.
"I am proud to sign a law that brings an end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" Obama said. "No longer will tens of thousands of men and women be asked to live a lie."
But Obama also warned gays in the ranks to stay closeted for a 60-day waiting period until the Pentagon "certifies" that the new policy can be implemented.
Until then, "the old policy remains in effect," Obama said.
At a signing ceremony in the Interior Department, gay rights advocates and gays who had been drummed out of the military under DADT gave prolonged applause to Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mullen had called scrapping the old rule "the right thing to do."
Obama said Mullen "had spoken from the heart. He said what he believed was right."
The military is expected to take up to a year to work out details on implementing the new law, but Mullen has already said that there will be no separate housing, barracks or showers.
Obama noted that gays had served in silence on their sexual identity from the Revolution through the current fighting in Afghanistan.
Despite some opposition in the top ranks, including Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, Obama predicted that the military will quickly adapt to gays serving openly.
Obama said "People will look at this moment and remember -- why was this ever a source of controversy in the first place?"
Read more: News
No comments:
Post a Comment