The Department of Defense announced today that it is instructing military recruiters to accept enlistees who identify themselves as gay in order to comply with a court order to stop enforcing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
According to a spokeswoman, recruiters have been told to begin processing gay recruits, even if they acknowledge their sexual identity.
But they're also being told to warn recruits that, if they say they're gay, they could still face discharge if the order ending DADT is stayed, or a judge's ruling that the policy is unconstitutional is overturned.
Recruiters, and military personnel in general, are also still not allowed to ask about the sexual orientation of a recruit or servicemember.
The Pentagon has also cautioned members against changing their behavior, should DADT be reinstated.
Lt. Dan Choi, the Army West Point grad who announced he was gay on the Rachel Maddow show as a direct challenge to DADT, (and who was here speaking at Northern Kentucky University earlier this month) went to the Army Recruiter at Times Square this afternoon to rejoin after his discharge.
This is definitely a step in the right direction, and with the judge in the case refusing to stay her decision, the Obama administration will have to ask for a stay from the full 9th Circuit, and if that doesn't happen, Justice Kennedy of the Supreme Court can either hear the case himself or let the full Supreme Court decide.
It's still up in the air, but we'll see what happens.
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