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WASHINGTON : As thousands of gay rights activists gathered here Sunday, lawmakers expressed cautious support for President Barack Obama's renewed pledge to end a military ban on openly gay service members.
At a gala dinner on Saturday night, Obama renewed a promise to end the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which prevents homosexuals from serving openly in the US military.
"I will end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' That's my commitment to you," he said to cheers from some 3,000 activists.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country. We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage and selflessness on behalf of their fellow citizens, especially when we're fighting two wars."
The policy, introduced in 1993, ended the practice of asking prospective or serving military personnel about their sexual orientation, but makes "homosexual conduct" a dischargeable offense.
More than 12,000 service members have been discharged under the policy, including specialists with language skills that are in short supply.
But repealing the policy will require the support of US lawmakers, many of whom must answer to conservative constituents and are wary of forcing a major change on the US military.
Democratic Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced support for an end to the policy introduced by former president Bill Clinton, but warned that military support would be key.
"It has to be done in the right way," he told NBC.
"We can do it successfully, but it ought to be done with thoughtfulness and care, and with buy-in from the military."
"The military were the ones that ended the discriminatory policy against African Americans. They can end it here, it will be great progress," he said.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has served as a military judge, expressed more caution.
"I am open-minded as to what the military might suggest, but I can tell you I'm not going to make policy based on a campaign rally," he told NBC.
"If this policy about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' changes, it should be done based not on politics but on reason."
Retired General Richard Myers, a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the current policy has not served as a blanket prohibition on gay service members.
"Gays can serve in the military, they just can't serve openly, and they do, and there's lots of them, and we are the beneficiary of all that," he said.
The issue has returned to center stage over a year after Obama pledged during his election campaign to repeal the policy.
Thousands of activists seeking equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people were set to march in Washington DC Sunday in a bid to pressure Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress to keep long-standing promises.
While an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a top priority for gay rights activists, many are also looking to Obama and Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage at the federal level as between a man and a woman.
But even many Democrats who support the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and legislation banning hate crimes against homosexuals are reluctant to repeal the act.
"I've said in the past I don't think that's the way to go," said Democratic Senator Robert Casey.
"We can move forward on a lot of measures, but I'm not sure there's the support yet for that," he said on CNN.
Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan noted that her state has passed a ballot initiative banning gay marriage.
"I think, for a number of us, that becomes a challenge in terms of what has happened in terms of voting in our states," she said.
- AFP /ls
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