McHugh says he wouldn’t report gays

In interviews this week with reporters, former North Country Rep. John McHugh — a Republican now serving as Army Secretary — said that he wouldn’t report gays who spoke openly to him of their sexual orientation.

McHugh argued that the “don’t ask-don’t tell” system for removing gays from the military wouldn’t apply during the current review of the policy.

Here’s Reuters take on his comments:

“It is not so stated but I think a reasonable assumption” that he need not pursue discharges, McHugh said.

He said he had already had heard admissions from active-duty personnel, but had taken no action. He assumed other military leaders were having similar experiences.

“What I’m trying to do is tell the troops that’s it’s OK to talk about this, no matter what their view is,” said McHugh, the Army’s top civilian official. He used the word “moratorium” loosely to describe the defacto Pentagon policy.

Other military officials have insisted that no ‘moratorium’ is in place on discharges of gays and lesbians.

Tags: glbt