White House says the only path for gays to serve openly in military is through legislation

October 7th, 2009 Obama to name gay lawyer as ambassadorWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the United States' ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, an administration official said Wednesday. David Huebner was the lawyer who would be announced for the post, said an official who would speak only on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement.

October 7th, 2009 Obama picks openly gay lawyer for ambassadorshipWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday he planned to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

October 4th, 2009 Obama to take on military gay ban at 'right time'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will focus "at the right time" on how to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military, his national security adviser said Sunday. "I don't think it's going to be — it's not years, but I think it will be teed up appropriately," James Jones said.

October 2nd, 2009 Reid wants Obama's view on military's gay banWASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to hear from the Obama administration on how to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military. The Democratic-led Congress is considering repealing the 1993 law but isn't expected to act on the issue until early next year.

September 9th, 2009 Report: Mixed court views on gays in militaryWASHINGTON — Conflicting Supreme Court rulings on homosexual rights make it difficult to predict whether any new laws protecting gays who want to serve openly in the military would be upheld, a congressional report concludes. The legal analysis by the Congressional Research Service comes as Democratic lawmakers push legislation to repeal the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law that blocks gays' military service if they disclose their sexual orientation.

July 24th, 2009 First openly gay member joins AF Academy boardCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Colorado Democrat who last year became the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to Congress took his place Friday on the U.S.

July 13th, 2009 NEW YORK — Nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in their armed forces, as compiled by the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara: Australia Austria Belgium Britain Canada Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Ireland Israel Italy Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Uruguay

July 5th, 2009 Mullen advises 'measured' approach to gay policyWASHINGTON — The nation's top military officer said Sunday he has advised President Barack Obama to move "in a measured way" in changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military. Obama as a candidate pledged to end the ban.

July 1st, 2009 Gates says he wants to soften gay expulsion rulesWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he wants to make the law prohibiting gays from serving openly in the armed forces "more humane" until Congress eventually repeals it. He said he has lawyers studying ways the law might be selectively enforced.

June 29th, 2009 White House confident Senate will pass energy billWASHINGTON — The White House says it's confident that the Senate will pass comprehensive energy legislation. President Barack Obama's top energy adviser, Carol Browner, made the comment in an interview with a small group of reporters.

June 17th, 2009 AP source: Same-sex partners to get fed benefitsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, whose gay and lesbian supporters have grown frustrated with his slow movement on their priorities, is extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, a White House official said. Obama planned to announce his decision Wednesday in the Oval Office, the official said.

May 12th, 2009 White House: Law only answer for gays in militaryWASHINGTON — The White House says it won't stop gays and lesbians from being dismissed from the military while the Obama administration works to repeal a decade-old policy banning openly gay people from serving in uniform. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that President Barack Obama does not plan to intervene in current cases against men and women who announce their homosexuality.

May 10th, 2009 Obama aide: Gays in military policy under reviewWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's national security adviser says allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is in the early discussions. But retired Marine Gen.

May 9th, 2009 Text of Caldera's resignation letter to ObamaText of a letter to President Barack Obama from Louis Caldera, who is resigning as director of the White House Military Office: Dear Mr. President: I have concluded that the controversy surrounding the Presidential Airlift Group's aerial photo shoot over New York City has made it impossible for me to effectively lead the White House Military Office.

April 30th, 2009 National poll: mixed views on gay-rights issuesA majority of Americans oppose gay marriage but support civil unions for same-sex couples and favor repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. Quinnipiac's polling institute, which surveyed 2,041 registered voters nationwide, said it was one of most comprehensive polls ever on attitudes toward a variety of gay-rights questions.