Colin Powell Supports Repeal of Gay Military Ban

Gen. Colin L. Powell has thrown his support behind allowing gays to serve openly in the United States military.

Powell was the top military officer in the 1990s under the first President George Bush and Bill Clinton. When Clinton tried to lift the gay ban,

Powell was against it and played a part in crafting the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

“In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” General Powell said in a statement issued by his office on Feb. 4, 2010. He added: “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.”

His support to lift the ban comes a few days after Robert Gates, defense secretary and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers the ban should be lifted, allowing gays to serve openly, with integrity and dignity to serve their country.

Some Republicans Senators spoke up in favor of the ban, saying this is the wrong time to address this issue given we are involved in two wars and the military is stretched thin.

Those in support of lifting the ban, said the fact the military is stretched thin makes this a good time to address the issue because everyone trained for the military is needed.

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 9:12pm.

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