Black Christian News

The debate over gays in the military has driven an extraordinary public wedge between the nation's highest-ranking military officer and the four service chiefs who collectively make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday he would have preferred that Congress had waited before voting to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

In my exclusive "This Week" interview, Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said "the country has changed" in the 17 years since "don't ask, don't tell" became law and now believes, "it is perfectly acceptable to get rid of the law and the policy."  But, he added, "before we actually do it, we have to hear clearly from the officers and men and women who are in charge of executing that policy."

The White House hopes it's a new day for gay rights in the African nation of Malawi and around the world.

The campaign to overturn the ban on military service by open homosexuals gained two major congressional victories Thursday that increased its likelihood of success.

Mr wa Mutharika had been under international pressure to reconsider the convictions of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20.

Some conservative organizations are attempting one last push back in their fight to keep gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military.Political Advocacy Tracker is a roundup of what Christian activist organizations have been talking about over the last week.

The bill repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military could present the Obama administration with a problem: It also contains money for projects the Pentagon considers wasteful.

Tonight, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to overturn the law on homosexuals in the military known as "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Sen. Carl M. Levin favors repeal of the 1993 law. (Evan Vucci - AP)Key votes pending in Congress this week on whether to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law that prohibits openly gay men and lesbians from serving in the military remain too close to call, advocates on both sides say.