
Women Disproportionately Impacted by 'Don't
Ask, Don't Tell'
WASHINGTON, DC -- Women continue to be discharged at
twice the rate of their presence in the armed forces under the federal
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual
service members, according to new data obtained by Servicemembers Legal
Defense Network (SLDN).
While women account for approximately 15 percent of the armed forces,
they totaled 30 percent of those dismissed under the gay ban in 2005. In
all, 219 women out of a total of 726 service members were discharged
under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The Army, reported discharging 146 women
in 2005; the Navy, 31; the Air Force, 28; and the Marine Corps, 14.
"Women
have a long and rich history of service to our country," said SLDN
executive director C. Dixon Osburn. "Our nation is safer and more secure
because of the contributions made by all women, including lesbian and
bisexual women, in our armed forces. It is high time we honored the
service of these patriotic women by repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
once and for all."
An October 2004 Urban Institute study revealed the long history of
service by the lesbian community. The study revealed that not only do
the rates of service by coupled lesbians surpass that of other women,
but that they serve longer than other women. Of women ages 18-67 who
served in the armed forces, over 80 percent of coupled lesbians reported
having served more than two years, compared with 74 percent of other
women.
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