Military Recruiters Accepting Gay Applicants

The military is accepting openly gay recruits for the first time in the nation's history, even as it tries in the courts to slow the movement to abolish its "don't ask, don't tell" policy. A Pentagon spokeswoman said recruiters had been given top-level guidance to accept applicants who say they are gay. Recruiters also have been told to inform potential recruits that the moratorium on enforcement of the policy could be reversed at any time, if the ruling is appealed.

At least two service members discharged for being gay began the process to re-enlist after the Pentagon's announcement. Meanwhile, a federal judge in California who overturned the 17-year policy last week rejected the government's latest effort today to halt her order telling the military to stop enforcing the law. Government lawyers will likely appeal. (More Don't Ask, Don't Tell stories.)