Gates, Mullen to testify on DADT repeal

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen are prepared to testify before the Senate on repealing the ban that prevents openly gay people from serving in the military.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said this week that he is planning to schedule a hearing on the repeal of the law, known as "Don't Ask, don't Tell," towards the end of this month.

Gates said at a press briefing on Friday that there are continuing conversations within the Pentagon about "implementing the president's intent."

President Barack Obama made it a campaign pledge to repeal the controversial law and has come under increasing pressure from gay rights advocates to move on the repeal. Gay rights advocates are eying the change in law for this year, but it is yet unclear how Obama will proceed. 

The Pentagon has moved slowly on the issue, and there have been reports on internal dissent on how fast changes to the law should be instituted.

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