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(Manila) The Philippines has become the second country in a week to officially end the ban on gays serving in the military.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said that the decision shows the military has a zero tolerance for discrimination among its ranks. But it also warned that despite allowing gays to serve openly, overt homosexual behavior will still not be tolerated.
“Once inside the organization, they have to live by a code of ethics and they have to observe decorum if they want to remain as members of the Armed Forces,” military spokesperson Ernesto Torres told The Manila Times.
To mark the change the military this week began a recruiting drive in the LGBT community.
On Monday, Argentina announced that it had abandoned the gay ban, part of a sweeping military reform act that included the way members of the armed forces are put on trial.
The issue of gays serving opening in the military has roiled the US armed services.
On Monday, legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was filed in the House of Representatives.
While previous attempts to repeal the law were bogged down when Republicans controlled Congress, there is renewed hope the measure will pass the Democratically-controlled Congress.
President Barack Obama has said that he supports repeal of the ban.
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