By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: February 2, 2010

WASHINGTON — The nation’s top two Defense officials called for an end on Tuesday to the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, a major step toward allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the United States military for the first time in its history....

For entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/politics/03military.html?hp

Related story: "Gays in Military Ruling Creates Dilemma for Brass":
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/06/us/AP-US-Military-Gays-Legal....

Second related story:
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
NY Times, January 31, 2010

WASHINGTON — President Obama and top Pentagon officials met repeatedly over the past year about repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the law that bans openly gay members of the military.

But it was in Oval Office strategy sessions to review court cases challenging the ban — ones that could reach the Supreme Court — that Mr. Obama faced the fact that if he did not change the policy, his administration would be forced to defend publicly the constitutionality of a law he had long opposed....

For entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/politics/01military.html?scp=1&sq=v...