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Pentagon: No Gays Were Discharged In Past Month

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Pentagon spokeswoman says no service members have been discharged for being openly gay in the month since the Defense Department adopted new rules surrounding "don't ask, don't tell."

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told The Associated Press on Monday that officials have not approved any discharges under "don't ask, don't tell" since at least Oct. 21. The 1993 law allows gays to serve in the military as long as they keep their sexual orientations secret.

Under the new rules adopted Oct. 21, Defense Secretary Robert Gates put authority for signing off on all these dismissals in the hands of the four service secretaries.

Before then, any commanding officer at a rank equivalent to a one-star general could discharge gay enlisted personnel.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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