Civil Rights

Obama: End 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'

McCain objects to appeal.

In Wednesday's State of the Union address, President Obama called for an end to the policy that prevents gays from openly serving in the U.S. military. "Don't ask don't tell," as the policy is commonly known, has been controversial since President Bill Clinton crafted the compromise on allowing gays to serve in 1993. The policy says gays and lesbians will not be hunted in the military, but if they make their sexual orientation known, they will be discharged. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) mentioned this week that Obama might call for its repeal, and Wednesday morning retired Gen. John Shalikashvili, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the president should do so. On Tuesday, a report was released that estimated that 66,000 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are serving in the U.S. military—about 2 percent of all service members. Following the address, Sen. John McCain said that "it would be a mistake to repeal the policy."