Obama will ask in State of Union for end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Obama will ask in State of Union for end to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Written by:Ed O’Keefe

President Obama will call for a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy during Wednesday night's State of the Union address, White House officials said Wednesday afternoon.
The policy forbids openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military, and requires their discharge should they tell fellow servicemembers about their sexuality.
"Don't ask, don't tell" was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It was intended as a compromise between the military's desire to continue banning gays from its ranks and Clinton's campaign promise to allow gays serving in the military to be open about their sexual orientation. The law forbade the latter but it also blocked military commanders from asking about a subordinate's sexuality.
Gay rights groups have fought ever since to repeal the policy, and Clinton has since said that he now supports lifting the restrictions. Obama vowed during his own campaign to end "don't ask, don't tell," a position he reiterated last October in a speech to the Human Rights campaign, a prominent gay rights group.
The White House has faced pressure since early last year from liberal and gay rights groups over the policy. A growing chorus of people across the political spectrum and several retired military leaders have also called for a repeal.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) hinted to reporters earlier this week that Obama might mention a repeal. He said the White House had asked him to delay hearings scheduled for February on the matter. CNN first reported Wednesday afternoon on the president's intention.
Earlier in the day, retired Gen. John Shalikashvili, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged the president to repeal the policy. "As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," Shalikashvili said. "It is time to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and allow our military leaders to create policy that holds our service members to a single standard of conduct and discipline."
Shalikashvili was chairman of the Joint Chiefs when the policy was enacted under Clinton.
A report released Tuesday estimated that 66,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual people are serving in the U.S. military, roughly 2 percent of all military personnel.

Gays, lesbians and bisexuals account for about 13,000 active-duty servicemembers, equal to less than 1 percent currently deployed, the report estimated. About 53,000 others serve in the National Guard and reserves, equaling about 3.4 percent, the report stated.
FILED BY:EKOW MENSAH-SHALDERS