(Washington) Barack Obama’s State of the Union address is expected to cross a spectrum of issues, including gays in the military.

Obama has promised to lift the ban on gays serving openly, and several lawmakers support a repeal of the law. But some senior military advisers and members of Congress have …

Report: Mixed court views on gays in military

(Washington) Conflicting Supreme Court rulings on gay rights make it difficult to predict whether any new laws protecting gays who want to serve openly in the military would be upheld, a congressional report concludes.

The legal analysis by the Congressional Research Service comes as Democratic lawmakers push legislation to repeal the …

Allies’ stance cited in US gays-in-military debate

(New York) When it comes to dealing with gay personnel in the ranks, the contrasts are stark among some of the world’s proudest, toughest militaries – and these differing approaches are invoked by both sides as Americans renew debate over the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

In the United States, …

Nunn: Probably time to review gays in military policy

Sam Nunn, a former Democratic senator from Georgia, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that it’s “probably time” to review the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning gay people in the military.

Nunn, a conservative Democract who was one of his party’s experts in military matters, was a key advisor to President Barack Obama during the transition.

See what Nunn had to say:

Nunn: Probably time to review gays in military policy

Seattle Post Intelligencer

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Obama Avoids Test on Gays in Military

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has decided to accept an appeals-court ruling that could undermine the military’s ban on service members found to be gay.

A federal appeals court in San Francisco last year ruled that the government must justify the expulsion of a decorated officer solely because she is a lesbian. The court rejected government arguments that the law banning gays in the military should have a blanket application, and that officials shouldn’t be required to argue the merits in her individual case.

The administration let pass a May 3 deadline to appeal to the Supreme Court. That means the case will be returned to the district court, and administration officials said they will continue to defend the law there.

The move “takes the issue off the front burner,” as a trial and subsequent appeals could take years before the question returns to the Supreme Court, said an official familiar with the matter.

The decision comes as President Barack Obama attempts a balancing act on gay rights. He was elected with strong support from the gay community and promised action on a number of issues. But mindful of the complex politics, the White House has moved slowly.

See Obama Avoids Test on Gays in Military Wall Street Journal

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White House: Legislation key for gays in military

(Washington) The White House says it won’t stop gays and lesbians from being dismissed from the military while the Obama administration works to repeal a decade-old policy banning openly gay people from serving in uniform.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that President Barack Obama does not plan to intervene …