Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, who helped instituted the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in the 1990s, now supports the efforts to repeal it.
Powell, who was chairman of the joint chiefs when the military’s policy toward gay servicemembers was instituted, said “I fully support the new approach” in a statement today.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military, but also prohibits recruiters from asking about sexuality. Those who admit to being gay or are outed by a third party may be discharged after an investigation.
That new approach Powell cites, presented by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Michael Mullen yesterday, includes appointing a commission to study the effects of such a repeal, and possibly stopping action against servicemembers who have been outed by a third party.
Both Gates and Mullen expressed their full support for the repeal.
Powell also said, “I strongly believe that this is a judgment to be made by the current military leadership and the Commander in Chief. It is also a judgment Congress must make.”
He also noted that he has publicly supported a review of the policy for two years.