Pentagon to detail new 'don't ask, don't tell' steps

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon will unveil steps next week that the military will take to lay the ground for a repeal of its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which permits gays to serve in uniform as long they hide their sexual orientation, officials said on Thursday.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, will present an "implementation plan" to U.S. lawmakers next Tuesday, spelling out measures that the Pentagon will take internally before the White House and the Congress move to change the law.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell declined to comment on what steps the military would take, telling reporters: "The secretary and the chairman have been and continue to work on an implementation plan and will be able to share it with you early next week."

Existing policy bans openly gay people from serving in the military but prohibits military officials from initiating inquiries on sexual orientation when soldiers are abiding by the rules.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/id...-45789120100128