Panetta: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Going ‘Very Well’
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said a new internal military report has found that the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is going “very well,” but both refused to say whether they personally support gay marriage.
“No, I have not found any negative effect on good order or discipline,” Mr. Dempsey said when asked during a briefing with reporters Thursday for an assessment of the Obama administration’s policy change allowing openly gay and lesbian service members to remain in the military.
Mr. Panetta said he “wouldn’t render a personal opinion” about whether he shared President Obama’s newly announced support for gay marriage but argued that a new report indicated that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal is going well.
“It’s not impacting morale, or impacting unit cohesion or readiness,” he said.
The secretary also said the law allows gay and lesbian service members to wed in states where those marriages are legal.