Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to announce today that the military will stop discharging gay service members while it begins a "special investigation" into the effect a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will have on the armed forces.President Obama renewed his call for a repeal in his State of the Union address last week (and Gates stood up to applaud). Obama has also reportedly told Gates and Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, that repealing DADT is a priority for 2010.
The DADT law can only be overturned by congressional vote, which may be a tall order as mid-term elections approach. But with the President and his Defense Secretary pushing for it, and with public approval for a gay military ban at an all time low, one can have a glimmer of hope.
