The policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” passed by Congress in 1993, is a law mandating the discharge of openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual servicemembers. Under the restrictions of this law, approximately two individuals per day are released from military service for being gay or lesbian. Since 1994, almost 13,000 servicemembers- the equivalent of three and a half combat brigades- have been discharged under this policy.
At a time when the United States is engaged in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” threatens our national security and hinders our military readiness. These two wars have put great strain on the military’s personnel resources, while “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has resulted in the discharge of nearly 800 “mission critical troops,” such as fighter pilots and medics, and at least 59 Arabic and 9 Farsi linguists over the last five years. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” clearly isn’t working for our military: the government spends tens of thousands of dollars to recruit new personnel while discharging other qualified, dedicated military personnel strictly on the basis of their sexual orientation. The long-term economic costs of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have been incredibly wasteful, with a 2005 GAO study estimating that American taxpayers have paid between $250 million and $1.2 billion to investigate, eliminate and replace servicemembers under the law.
Polls consistently indicate overwhelming bipartisan public support for lifting the ban. A July 2008 poll by the Washington Post/ABC News found that 75 percent of Americans favor allowing gays to serve openly in the military – up from just 44 percent in 1993. The poll also found that 64 percent of Republicans are in favor of repeal, and a 2006 Zogby poll found that 73 percent of military personnel are comfortable serving with gays and lesbians.
A number of prominent former flag officers support open service, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili and former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander, as do America’s most important allies- including Great Britain and Israel. A 1993 RAND report concluded that the U.S. military could lift “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” without detriment to military readiness, and at least a dozen subsequent studies have concluded that open service by gay individuals does not undermine military readiness, troop morale, unit cohesion, or national security. In addition, most allied forces working alongside U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan allow individuals to serve openly, regardless of their sexual orientation.
There are approximately one million gay and lesbian veterans in the United States today, as well as 65,000 gay and lesbian servicemembers currently serving alongside their straight counterparts in our Armed Force. |
