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nichy
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Thanks smithy - you learn something new ever day. Your comment prompted me to look up the "American answer to the gay thing "
Don't ask, don't tellFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "DADT" redirects here. For the television syndication company, see Disney-ABC Domestic Television. For other uses, see Don't ask, don't tell (disambiguation). Part of a series on Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights Laws around the world Recognition of relationships Same-sex marriage LGBT adoption Military service Immigration issues
Violence against LGBT people Legal aspects of transsexualism LGBT rights organizations Opposition LGBT portal v · d · e Don't ask, don't tell (DADT) is the term commonly used for the policy restricting United States military personnel from efforts to discriminate or harass closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring those who are openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from military service. The restrictions are mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). The policy prohibits people who "demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because their presence "would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." (10 U.S.C. § 654(b)) The act prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. The act specifies that service members who disclose that they are homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct shall be separated (discharged) except when a service member's conduct was "for the purpose of avoiding or terminating military service" or when it "would not be in the best interest of the armed forces" (10 U.S.C. § 654(e)).
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