WASHINGTON — The Joint Chiefs of Staff would not be required to oppose the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy if Barack Obama becomes president, but the policy itself should be repealed, the presidential hopeful told a gay news magazine in Thursday editions.

The policy that prevents gays from serving in the military if they announce their orientation, which was instituted during the Clinton administration, is ripe for elimination, the Democratic front-runner suggested. But the Joint Chiefs’ priority should be keeping the country safe and strengthening the military, he said.

“I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Obama said in an interview with the Advocate. “But I think there’s increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy.

“We’re spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn’t make us more safe,” he said.

Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said Obama’s position is logical and on-point.

“In terms of any kind of litmus test for his appointees, I think Obama is correct that the most important qualifications for those jobs are that they agree with his view of how best to protect the country … and other policy issues necessarily take a backseat to that main goal,” Dison told FOXNews.com.

“I agree that he should not impose certain litmus tests that are policy-based.”

Obama spoke with the Advocate after being criticized last week in The Philadelphia Gay News for not talking to the gay media more frequently. The Philadelphia paper ran a large blank space on its front page next to an interview with Hillary Clinton to highlight that Obama did not speak with its reporters.

“The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times,” Obama told the magazine. He said ha has frequently spoken out against homophobia and in support of gay rights.

Dison said he’s pleased with the attention paid by both candidates to gay rights issues.

“I think that both of the Democratic primary contestants, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have gone out of their way to talk about the issues facing the gay community,” he said. “Senator Obama has been talking about equality for gay Americans in front of audiences that he doesn’t need to address those issue with, so that gives hope.”

Obama said he can “reasonably see” repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” during his administration. He also said he would support legislation to ban workplace discrimination against gays. He said he’d like transgendered people to be covered by the law, but thinks it would be tough to get such legislation through Congress.

“I am extremely encouraged by Senator Obama’s optimism to get “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed.  He, like Senator Clinton, wants this terrible law repealed sooner rather than later.  It is also my hope we can persuade Senator McCain this inequitable law must go,” added Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN).  “Our opportunity is in the next Congress with a new president in the White House demonstrating leadership in the repeal fight,” she said.

Obama also said he’s interested in ensuring that same-sex couples in civil unions get federal benefits.

Click here to read the Obama interview with the Advocate.

FOX News’ Cristina Corbin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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