WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday released the findings of a comprehensive study on military personnel's opinion on the ban on gays serving openly in uniform, noting that "strong majority" of the military do not object to gays and lesbians serving openly. He recommended the Congress repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Gates said there is little risk to the military in ending the Clinton-era ban on gays to serve openly in the forces, as the months-long study found solid majority of troops from all branches of the military do not object to the changes, and such changes won 't affect military readiness even in the time of war.

Gates urged the Congress repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and send it for President Barack Obama's signature. But he warned it would be "unwise" to implement the full repeal before the military is properly prepared in order to avoid potential disruptive impact from the repeal.

The "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, which was introduced as a compromise measure in 1993 by then-President Bill Clinton, prohibits homosexuals to serve openly in the military. It has been a major contentious issue in U.S. politics. Critics including gay rights groups argue that the policy violates the rights of gay military members to free speech and open association.