Obama Vows to End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

2 years ago

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The New York Times reports:

President Obama on Saturday renewed his vow to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, but failed to offer a timetable for doing so - an omission likely to inflame critics who say he is not fighting aggressively enough for gay rights.

"I will end 'don't ask, don't tell,' " Mr. Obama told an audience of nearly 3,000 people at a fund-raising dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay advocacy group. "That is my commitment to you."

Of all the issues Mr. Obama has vowed to address, the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy is perhaps the one that stirs the most emotion. Mr. Obama said Saturday night that he was working with the Pentagon and with House and Senate leaders to repeal the policy, but many gay rights supporters have accused him of dragging his feet.

See video of the speech.

Obama Pledges Again to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' [New York Times]

Filed Under: Gay Rights, Obama Administration

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