A US appeals court advanced the cause of gays and lesbians in the military yesterday by ordering the immediate end of a policy that prevented them from serving openly.
President Barack Obama last year signed a landmark law repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that forced gays to keep their sexual orientation secret if they want to be in the military. The issue of military service has long been a key issue for the gay community, along with same-sex marriage.
The Pentagon has been in the process of writing rules for the new policy. However, the appeals court's ruling could speed up that process.
Last year, a California district court judge found that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy violated the US Constitution, and issued an injunction.
But the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals put that injunction on hold as the Department of Justice appealed the ruling.
Even with Mr Obama's support for ending the 18-year-old policy, the Justice Department asked the appeals court to keep the injunction in place to give the military more time to prepare for admitting gay soldiers.
In an order yesterday, a three judge panel of the 9th Circuit noted that the process of repealing the policy is now "well under way." The government "can no longer satisfy the demanding standard" to keep the injunction on hold, the court ruled.
The Pentagon said it was still studying the ruling, but added it would comply with the court order. A spokesman, Colonel Dave Lapan, said the US military was immediately taking "steps to inform the field of this order".
Reuters