Posted on 09/20/2011 1:41:43 PM PDT by lbryce
President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the end of the policy banning gays from serving openly in the armed forces, as the Pentagon vowed "zero tolerance" for harassment of homosexuals in the military.
"Today, the discriminatory law known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is finally and formally repealed," Obama said in a statement. "As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love."
The repeal went into effect on Tuesday, ushering in a new era in the armed forces. The law had allowed gay men and women to serve in the military only if they kept their sexual orientation a secret. They faced the threat of being kicked out of the military if they were open about their homosexuality.
Obama last December signed legislation to repeal the policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which had been passed by Congress and signed into law in 1993 under then-President Bill Clinton.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made it clear that the military would not tolerate mistreatment of gays in the ranks.
"This is an historic day for the Pentagon and for the nation," he said. "We have a zero tolerance with regards to harassment," Panetta told a Pentagon briefing.
Under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, more than 14,500 service members were thrown out of the military since it went into effect in 1993, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. (See graphic r.reuters.com/vaj83s)
Gay rights groups for years denounced the law and called its end a important milestone in the fight against anti-homosexual discrimination. Some have compared its demise to the integration of the armed forces.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
A sad day for the United States of America.
The joint Chiefs should establish a new special forces division: The Gay Brigade!
Make them the tip of the spear (with little or no traing) for every single mission!
We’ll see how many want to join the services after that!
I think it has been shown time and time again that homosexuals are a security risk.
All kidding and joking aside, this is an complete and utter disgrace on this fine nation!
The american military is no longer Mental its become Groinal..
Sen.Scott Brown agrees with obama.It came out from his office today.
A sad day for civilization.
first thing the new president should do is overturn this pathetic mental sickness law.
Now homo’s can have homo parties in base.
Men can wear dresses after work on base.
same sex can kiss and hold hands on base.
Homo officers will give promotion to their homo.
women can buy strap on and both sexes can buy homo mags.
men forced to ahve showers with homos acting up.
survival training consists of men having to share sleeping bags with other men in cases of hypothermia.
the list is endless and this had better be overturned.
Hell not even a proper study was done over this but instead rushed through before the republicans took power.
All republicans which voted for this need to be targeted and booted out of office , same as those rats.
We’re talking about men thinking they’re women.
women wearing strap on and then thinking they’re men.
men [poking other men and they say this is normal, IS IT HELL
This pisses me off more than anything else this admin has done for a few reasons as a vet.
The marine corp still has alaw saying sodomy is illegal so how can this be now law
In the quote, he referred only to patriotic Americans. I guess America-hating Kenyans still have to get their kicks on the down-low.
To adapt a line from the movie, “Stripes”:
Someday in battle, straight soldiers may save the life of a gay soldier.
Then again, maybe they won’t.
Sex deviates are now forced upon society as “diverse lifestyles”, whereas we all (those of us with common sense) see it for what it is; and the deviance merely is a reflection of today’s societal breakdown where personal responsibilty, self-respect, moral character, and honesty have all been tossed aside in furtherance of gratification RIGHT NOW!
I had to turn off FOX. Shep was saying how the military still had a “way to go,” because homo partners still didn’t have benefits.
Give me a break. Isn’t it enough that my Marine son may be forced to share a room, alone, with a homosexual? That’s not exactly like sharing office space together.
OK, now how many are there? What percent?
Moral revulsion and combat effectiveness aside, This will inevitably lead to wholesale contamination of the military blood supply. Thousands of legitimate and illegitimate service related aids cases will collapse the system ala clowardbpriven
“Discrimination came from repudiating religious freedom for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish believers.”
You got that right. Now the military can and will FORCE believers to cohabitate with homosexuals.
I wonder how many straight liberals celebrating this “historic day” would be fine with being forced to living with a homosexual.
"No queers in my beloved Corps!"
I’m pert sure Shep is a flaming fag after he leaves work...
...not that there is anything wrong with that. (/disclaimer)
I have been trying to find a Internet Article I read back before gretawire forum got shut down by the Obots, and I still can’t find it, but I remembered something that was in it about how to handle people who may have AIDS and how you have to wear gloves and stuff. Has anybody mentioned that about this gay army stuff???
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.