国际英语新闻：Pentagon asks gay soldiers to keep silence

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the Justice Department appeals a California judge's injunction on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Pentagon on Friday asked gay servicemembers to keep their silence on their sexual orientation, even though it said it will abide by the injunction.

In a memorandum to service secretaries, Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said the Pentagon "note for servicemembers that altering their personal conduct in this legally uncertain environment may have adverse consequences for themselves or others should the court's decision be reversed."

In the same memo, he also said the department "will abide by the terms of the injunction."

Virginia Phillips, federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, on Tuesday ordered the military "immediately to suspend and discontinue any investigation, or discharge, separation or other proceeding, that may have been commenced under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Act."

The ban, which was introduced as a compromise measure in 1993 by then President Bill Clinton, prohibits homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

The U.S. government on Thursday asked a federal court to allow the "don't ask, don't tell" policy to stay in place during an appeal.

In a deposition filed with the court Thursday, Stanley argued " requiring the department to cease all enforcement of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' immediately and worldwide, will cause significant disruptions to the force in the short term and, in the long term, would likely undermine the effectiveness of any transition to accepting open service by gays and lesbians in the event the law is repealed or eliminated."

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a major contentious issue in U.S. politics. It has drawn strong criticism from gay rights groups, which argue that the policy violates the rights of gay military members to free speech and open association. President Barack Obama has committed to repeal the ban during his presidential campaign, and the Pentagon is now reviewing the effect a repeal would have on the troops.

Last month, U.S. Senate blocked the repeal of the military gay ban in a procedural vote, a major setback for gay rights proponents.