Top US Military Officer: Let Gays Serve Openly
Admiral Mike Mullen offered his support for President Obama's proposal to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Also, a ban on same-sex marriage faces trial in California. Transcript of radio broadcast:
05 February 2010
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Last week President Obama again called for ending a ban against people in the military who are openly homosexual. That was one of his campaign promises. This week America's top military officer expressed support for the proposal at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Admiral Mike Mullen is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Admiral Michael Mullen speaks to the Senate Armed Services Committee about the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy TuesdayMIKE MULLEN: "It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates also expressed support for ending the policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
President Bill Clinton proposed it seventeen years ago. The law, passed by Congress, does not prevent gays and lesbians from serving in the military. But it does require them not to tell anyone about their sexual preference. Estimates of the number of troops dismissed under the policy are as high as thirteen thousand five hundred.
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