WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department, for the first time, plans to honor gay, lesbian and bisexual troops with a gay pride month celebration, the Pentagon said.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta declined to give details of the event but said he believes it's important to recognize the service of gays in the military, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Under the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law, gay, lesbian and bisexual military personnel were barred from disclosing their sexual orientation or be forced to leave the service. The ban was U.S. policy until Sept. 20, 2011.

Congress had repealed the policy in December 2010 but it remained in effect until a court challenge upheld the repeal.