Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy To Be Revised With Leniency: Gates

The controversial "Don't ask, Don't tell" (a.k.a. DADT) policy that bans openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from serving in the U.S. Army will be reconsidered with leniency according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships while serving in the United States army. Heading into today's press briefing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, it was rumoured that Pentagon would make the DADT rules significantly less stringent. U.S. President Barack Obama has previously called for the DADT policy to be eliminated.

It is alleged the following two key points of the DADT policy are likely to be changed:

A more lenient policy will become an interim step before the elimination of the DADT policy. Pentagon is expected to take a year to study how to revise the DADT policy effectively and create a gradual transition to a more gay friendly policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "we have a degree of latitude within the existing law," but said he expects sharp divisions within U.S. government over DADT policy changes.