Gays, U.s. Military | featured news

The Obama administration on Wednesday asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit for an emergency stay while it appeals a decision that lets gays and lesbians serve openly in the U.S. military.

At least three service members discharged for being gay have begun the process to re-enlist after the Pentagon directed the military to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the nation s history.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday it has told military service recruiters they must accept applications from gays and lesbians, given a judge's decision to strike its ban on openly-serving homosexuals.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that abruptly ending the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays as a federal judge has ordered would have enormous consequences.

A federal judge issued a worldwide injunction stopping enforcement of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, ending the military’s 17-year-old ban on openly gay troops.