As part of defense appropriations bill, the House approved a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy largely along party lines. The vote was 229-186, with nine Republicans joining the majority and 26 Democrats voting against.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates endorsed the change when it became clear that Congress would not wait for the completion of a policy review being conducted by the military. The repeal's sudden move up the schedule was reportedly the work of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the repeal as part of the appropriations bill as well. But the legislation has not yet headed to the floor.

Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan, is well known for resisting the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy during her tenure as dean of Harvard Law School. Like many law school deans at the time, Kagan largely banished recruiters so long as the policy was in place. A case on the issue went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the "Solomon Amendment," a law that revokes federal funding from any university where military recruiting is barred. After the ruling, Kagan allowed the recruiters back into the career services center.

After her nomination, the Human Rights Campaign applauded Kagan's selection and noted her "vocal opposition" to the Solomon Amendment.

Following the announcement of Secretary Robert Gates that enforcement of "don't ask, don't tell" would be less strict, the Army's top official said he'd follow suit.

"Army Secretary John McHugh today said he has spoken with gay soldiers about their experience in the military and has no plans to initiate disciplinary action against them for disclosing their sexual orientation," reports CongressDaily (subscription).

The military is formally surveying its ranks about soldiers' opinions of gays serving openly, but McHugh sought to do some interviewing on his own. Debate continues about how to appropriately research the issue.

A brief filed by the Justice Department in defense of "don't ask, don't tell" is "angering gay activists," according to Politico. The activists were offended by "arguments that the presence of gays increases sexual tension in military units and invades the privacy of other service members," and they complained that the brief cites outdated views from former Gen. Colin Powell, who was once in support of the policy.

“The Department does not pick and choose which federal laws it will defend based on any one administration’s policy preferences,” Tracy Schmaler, a Justice Department spokesman, told Politico.

The Log Cabin Republicans filed a response to the DOJ that will be considered by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips as she decides whether to dismiss the original lawsuit or send it to trial, which would open the possibility that the policy is tossed out by the judicial system.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today that a review of "don't ask, don't tell" will coincide with temporary rules restricting the use of the policy. Any open cases would have to be re-examined under the new rules, he said. The New York Times summarized the rules this way:

"The new rules require that only an officer with the rank of at least a one-star general or admiral can initiate a fact-finding inquiry or other proceeding, or order any discharge under 'don’t ask, don’t tell.'

"The guidelines raise the standard for evidence, an effort to prevent 'malicious outing' by a third party or a jilted partner. Information provided by a third party must be given under oath.

"Also prohibited would be information provided to lawyers, clergy members or psychotherapists, as well as to doctors involved in the person’s medical treatment or gathered in a security clearance investigation, in accordance with current policies."

Obama spoke at a gala hosted by the Human Rights Campaign the day before an equality protest arrived on the National Mall, and used the speech to reiterate a number of his campaign promises, including his pledge to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“While progress may be taking longer than you'd like as a result of all that we face -- and that's the truth -- do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach,” he said. “My expectation is that when you look back on these years you will see a time when we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians whether in the office or on the battlefield.”

The president was straightforward: “I will end ‘don't ask, don't tell.’ That's my commitment to you.”

The Supreme Court refused to consider a challenge to "don't ask, don't tell." Former Army Capt. James Pietrangelo II had asked the court to rule the policy unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the administration has not taken steps in that direction despite increasing impatience from the gay community.

A few days after posting an affirmative one-word response to a question posted via Change.gov, spokesman Robert Gibbs put a caveat on his suggestion that Obama would repeal "don't ask, don't tell." CNN reports Gibbs as saying, "There are many challenges facing our nation now and the president-elect is focused first and foremost on jump-starting this economy.... So not everything will get done in the beginning but he's committed to following through."

As part of the second round of an "Open For Questions" series on Change.gov, one user from Michigan asked whether President Obama still plans to "get rid of the 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy." Obama’s future press secretary, Robert Gibbs, responded in a YouTube video, saying, "You don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's 'Yes.'"