THE TELEGRAPH: The American military has been told to begin admitting openly gay troops to their ranks for the first time in 17 years.
The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that military recruiters must accept applications from gays and lesbians, following a ruling by a federal judge that a law banning them was unconstitutional.
Judge Virginia Phillips said that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law breached gay troops' right to freedom of expression and to proper legal process, and ordered last week that it be lifted immediately.
She is expected later on Tuesday to reject a request from the US government to stay, or postpone, her ruling while the administration prepares an appeal against it.
Earlier in the day a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that in the mean time it had ordered officers to begin complying with the ruling.
"Recruiters have been given guidance, and they will process applications for applicants who admit they are openly gay or lesbian," the spokesman said.
However, troops were warned that disclosing that they were gay could have repercussions if the government's appeal against the ruling is ultimately successful. Read on and comment >>> Jon Swaine in New York | Tuesday, October 19, 2010
THE GUARDIAN: US military accepts openly gay recruits: 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy suffers another blow, but activists still warn applicants not to reveal sexuality >>> Paul Harris in New York | Wednesday, October 20, 2010
