Gay troops still face discharge for telling

Army Secretary John McHugh (left) said he misspoke earlier this week when he told reporters that openly gay troops would not be discharged for participating in a Pentagon study about implementing a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"Until Congress repeals 'don't ask, don't tell,' it remains the law of the land and the Department of the Army and I will fulfill our obligation to uphold it," McHugh said in a statement. The Defense Department said it plans to hire outside contractors to interview troops about the ban, and those who participate will not be subject to investigation or discharge for disclosing their sexual orientation to non-military researchers.