The repeal of the 1993 law Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which allowed gays to only serve in the military if they kept their sexual orientation secret, has officially gone into effect, The Huffington Post is reporting. Top Pentagon leaders have said the repeal won’t prevent the military’s ability to fight wars, while the Army only said the law is repealed and that soldiers should treat each other fairly.

George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said the military is adequately prepared for the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “No one should be left with the impression that we are unprepared. We are prepared for repeal,” he added.

The Pentagon said 97 percent of the military has undergone training in the new law. A spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq released a statement saying that all troops there had been trained on the change.

With the lift of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Defense Department will publish revised regulations to reflect the new law. The revisions are in line with policy guidance that was issued by the Pentagon in January 2011. The lifting of the ban will also stop all current pending investigations, discharges and other administrative proceedings.

However, certain existing standards won’t change with the repeal. Those standards of public displays of affection, regardless of sexual orientation, will remain in place. There also won’t be immediate changes to eligibility standards for military benefits.

Written by: Karen Benardello