Pentagon Saluting Gay Pride Month

Don't Ask, Don't Tell must be spinning in its grave: This is gay pride month at the Pentagon. With gays and lesbians now allowed to serve openly, the military has decided to mark the month just as it marks celebrations honoring other groups, reports AP. Defense Department officials say that the details are still being worked out, but the military plans to soon hold its first event ever honoring the contributions of gay service members.

"Now that we've repealed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" Defense Secretary Leon Panetta "feels it's important to find a way this month to recognize the service and professionalism of gay and lesbian troops," said a Navy spokesman. A co-director of OutServe, a formerly clandestine association of gay service members, says there has been tremendous progress in acceptance of the community, and points out that the rank and file now understands the inequality military gay couples still face regarding spousal benefits for same-sex partners, which the Pentagon is currently reviewing. (More Don't Ask, Don't Tell stories.)