Uruguay To Lift Ban On Gays In The Military

MONTEVIDEO — Uruguay is moving to lift a ban on homosexuals joining the armed forces.

The defense ministry confirms that Minister Jose Bayardi has signed a decree lifting the ban imposed by the 1973-85 military dictatorship.

The army said Wednesday it has received the decree, which has yet to be signed by President Tabare Vazquez.

The law had barred people with what it called "open sexual deviations" from entering the military academies.

It includes homosexuality among the "mental illnesses and disorders" that make a person unsuitable to join the armed forces.

The new decree states that sexual orientation will no longer be considered a reason to prevent people entering the military.

Comments

[Cosmic-Zantor]

Uruguay is now more progressive than the United States.

URUGUAY people. Come on now.

[Grada3784]

Hooray for Uruguay!!

[NWBrunette]

So.... when is Obama going to start acting like a Commander-In-Chief? I mean really, now URUGUAY is out in front of him? Sheeesh. And don't give the nonsense that we have to wait for Congress to change the law. Obama can easily stop enforcing it, now. And he can a take a lead on publicly encouraging Congress to do its job. The longer this goes on the more silly he looks.

[Paulo1]

Amazing, who would have thought that Uruguay would come bursting on the scene as more progressive than the United States ?