New Pentagon Rules for Discharging Gays

As predicted in a post early this morning, Secretary of Defense Gates did announce new Pentagon rules today for discharging gays under DADT. While DADT continues to be an abomination - as are its Uber -Christian supporters like Elaine Donnelly - I hope these new rules will reduce the witch hunts and anonymous "outings" that have been a reality in areas with large military personnel populations. Currently, our military has recruited (and continues to recruit) convicted felons, those without high school diplomas, and others with questionable records. But honorable, intelligent, and decorated gays are persona non grata. Truly a f*cked reality. Here are highlights from the New York Times on the new rules:
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates Thursday approved new rules that will make it harder to discharge gays from the military, calling the changes a matter of ''common sense and common decency." . . . rules which essentially put higher-ranking officers in charge of discharge proceedings and impose tougher requirements for evidence used against gays.
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The new guidelines go into effect immediately and will apply to cases already open. . . . To discourage the use of overheard statements or hearsay, from now on any evidence given in third-party outings must be given under oath, Gates said. Cases of third-party outings also have included instances in which male troops have turned in women who rejected their romantic advances or jilted partners in relationship have turned in a former lover.
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Some kinds of confidential information also will no longer be allowed, including statements gays make to their lawyers, clergy, psychotherapists or medical professionals in the pursuit of health care.
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Nathaniel Frank, a senior research fellow with the Palm Center, which supports a repeal of the ban, said it is unclear how much of an impact the new guidelines would have because regulations already restrict third-party allegations. ''Anything that continues to allow the discharge of service members for something that research shows has no bearing on military effectiveness will not go far enough,'' Frank said.