In Brief

Staff Reports

DOD Says It Will Celebrate Pride Month

ARLINGTON, VA -- A spokesman for Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told LGBTQNation Thursday that the Secretary issued instructions to Pentagon officials to mark the celebration of Gay Pride Month. According to Pentagon spokesperson Eileen Lainez, Secretary Panetta feels it's important to recognize the service of gays in the armed forces.

While declining to give details about what the event will be or form the celebration may take, the Pentagon will salute its Gay & Lesbian servicemembers just as it marks other celebrations honoring racial or ethnic groups. "We'll share specific details as they are finalized," Lainez said.

President Obama, in his proclamation declaring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, 2012, acknowledged that this is the first time U. S. servicemembers could participate in pride month celebrations since last September's repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." The president wrote; "Because we repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans can serve their country openly, honestly, and without fear of losing their jobs because of whom they love."

In a report to Congress released in May, Secretary Panetta noted that there had been no impact on morale, unit cohesion or readiness from ending DADT. Critics of the repeal had claimed that there would have been significant detrimental affect on the armed services especially during wartime.

More than 14,500 members of the U. S. armed forces were discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," law from its 1993 inception until its final repeal last year.