Less than two months after he announced that the armed services would move to end the bar on homosexuals from service, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued new related guidelines. Among them:
* From now on, only a flag officer can order a service member’s separation as a result of an investigation into homosexual conduct. Previously, colonels or Navy and Coast Guard captains could make such decisions, and;
* Information provided to health-care professionals from service members who seek treatment or advice, or for security clearances, also in most cases, cannot be used as grounds for separation.