Obama to call for an end to 'don't ask, don't tell'
January 27, 2010 | 4:39 pm
President Obama will call for the repeal of the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy toward homosexuals in his State of the Union address tonight, an Obama administration official said.
The policy was signed into law in 1993 by then-Democratic President Clinton as a compromise after the military objected to his calls to open its doors to gays.
Obama, who will deliver his State of the Union address at 9 p.m. EST, had pledged during the presidential campaign to change the policy. The policy stops the government from asking recruits or anyone in the military if they are homosexual, provided they did not disclose their sexual orientation.
Critics charge that having gays openly serve in the military would undermine morale and discipline. But others reject such complaints and call the policy unfair.
-- Associated Press
File photo from Feb. 2009 of Jack Reavley,left, 85, and Bob Claunch, 83, who have been together for more than 50 years. They met in the Army while they were both serving in Munich and have been together ever since. They kept their relationship secret for a year before confronting the troops in their unit. Jack had a wife and 2 kids that he left so he could be with Bob, and the two have spent their life together running a radio station and playing extras in TV and film. A documentary about their lives was released in 2006, called "Bob and Jack's 52-Year Adventure". They are now retired and live at Triangle Square, the Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing complex in Hollywood. Credit: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times
