US: Pentagon bans access to gay news websites

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

The United States Department of Defence has reportedly banned access to several gay media websites on its network of computers.

According to AMERICAblog; one of several US LGBT media outlets to be included on a banned list along with Towleroad, access remains off-limits for US defence staff because the websites are categorised as being “LGBT”.

The LGBT filter existed before the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a federal law which banned gay men and lesbians from being open about their sexuality in the US military.    

AMERICAblog said its site was previously banned for being “LGBT,” but now claims “we’re only banned at least by the air force, for being political” and as an “activist.”

The blog also points out that access to conservative ‘political’ sites such as those by Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter – who both at times have been accused by gay rights campaigners of inciting homophobic hatred with some of their rhetoric – remains acceptable under the Pentagon’s rules.