Pentagon

09/30/2011
DADT

Pentagon to Allow Chaplains to Officiate Weddings for Gay and Lesbian Service Members

By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:18pm

Last week, after nearly 18 years and 14,000 dismissals, the demise of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" became official. Earlier today, the Pentagon made clear that military chaplains will be permitted to officiate at wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian service members in those states where such marriages are legally recognized. In addition, the Pentagon made clear that these marriages can be performed on military bases, as well as other Defense Department facilities.

Read More»
09/19/2011
DADT

ACLU Lens: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Ends Tomorrow, But Not Its Sorry Legacy for Discharged Service Members

By Steve Gosset, ACLU at 2:18pm

You can play "Taps" tomorrow for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevented gay service members from serving openly.

The policy itself will be consigned to the dustbin of history when its repeal takes effect Tuesday. However, its legacy will still be felt by service members honorably discharged during the 18 years DADT was in place.

Richard Collins was one of them. Collins was a decorated Air Force staff sergeant, who was spotted kissing his boyfriend off-base and not in uniform. Collins, who served for nine years, was honorably discharged. But a Pentagon policy dictated that service members booted out of the military for "homosexuality," only receive half of the separation pay they would be entitled to.

Read More»
11/01/2010
Artificial Intelligence

The Software That Stares at Goats? Pentagon Building System For Massive E-Mail Privacy Violation

By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project at 1:14pm

Here we go again. Earlier this month the Pentagon announced a new effort to build a system aimed at allowing it to scan billions of communications in order to detect "anomalies" in people's behavior that will predict who is about to snap and turn into a homicidal maniac — or, perhaps, leak damaging documents to a reporter.

Read More»
Statistics image