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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| DADT: Pentagon to end US military gay ban | DADT: Pentagon to end US military gay ban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Pentagon is set to announce that the ban on openly gay people serving in US military is to end, officials say. | |
| Defence Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to certify the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), seven months after the law was overturned in the US Congress. | Defence Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to certify the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), seven months after the law was overturned in the US Congress. |
| The Pentagon had asked for time following the repeal to prepare troops for the arrival of openly gay comrades. | The Pentagon had asked for time following the repeal to prepare troops for the arrival of openly gay comrades. |
| The ban officially ceases 60 days after certification. | The ban officially ceases 60 days after certification. |
| 'Served in silence' | 'Served in silence' |
| The certification, expected to be announced on Friday by the Pentagon, signals that President Barack Obama, Defence Secretary Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen have officially confirmed that the military is prepared. | The certification, expected to be announced on Friday by the Pentagon, signals that President Barack Obama, Defence Secretary Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen have officially confirmed that the military is prepared. |
| "This Pentagon certification received by the White House this afternoon is welcomed by gay and lesbian service members who have had to serve their country in silence for far too long," Aubrey Sarvis, an Army veteran and executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defence Network, which advocated for 17 years for the law's repeal. | "This Pentagon certification received by the White House this afternoon is welcomed by gay and lesbian service members who have had to serve their country in silence for far too long," Aubrey Sarvis, an Army veteran and executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defence Network, which advocated for 17 years for the law's repeal. |
| "The troops and their commanders are ready." | "The troops and their commanders are ready." |
| Over the course of the past seven months, the Pentagon has produced new manuals and prepared military forces for the change. | Over the course of the past seven months, the Pentagon has produced new manuals and prepared military forces for the change. |
| Under the US policy of DADT established in 1993, gay people could serve in the military but could not acknowledge their orientation. The military was forbidden to inquire but was permitted to expel service members found to be gay. | Under the US policy of DADT established in 1993, gay people could serve in the military but could not acknowledge their orientation. The military was forbidden to inquire but was permitted to expel service members found to be gay. |
| More than 13,000 service members have been dismissed under the policy. | More than 13,000 service members have been dismissed under the policy. |
| The end of DADT fulfils a campaign pledge made in 2008 by President Barack Obama, who signed it into law in December. | The end of DADT fulfils a campaign pledge made in 2008 by President Barack Obama, who signed it into law in December. |
| Britain, Israel and dozens of other countries allow gay personnel to serve openly. | Britain, Israel and dozens of other countries allow gay personnel to serve openly. |