Statistics from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) show a sharp drop in the number of discharged homosexuals since 2001 but the U.S. military claims it is enforcing the ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, as it has for decades.

Gay rights advocates cite the plunge as evidence that the military is losing interest in enforcement and lets openly homosexual men and women serve because commanders need every able-bodied troop, The Washington Times reports.

"Truth be told, I don't think the Pentagon is a big fan of the law anymore," said Steve Ralls, spokesman for SLDN, an organization for gay service members.

The Pentagon provided a statement to The Washington Times saying it still enforces the exclusion, which was modified in the early 1990s under a policy known as "don't ask, don't tell."

"Our policy implements the law Congress passed after prolonged research and debate," said Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez. "The Department will continue to follow congressional mandate on homosexual conduct. This law requires the Department of Defense to separate from the armed forces members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts; state they are homosexual or bisexual; or marry or attempt to marry a person of the same biological sex."

"We can't speculate as to why the number of discharges has declined," Lainez said.

Statistics from SLDN shows that the number of discharges has dropped from 1,273 in 2001 to 612 in 2006.

"The drop is clear evidence that traditionally during a time of war lesbian and gay discharges decline," Ralls said. "Commanders recognize the value of having good quality service members on the job regardless of what their sexual orientation may be."

Elaine Donnelly, who runs the Center for Military Readiness, disagrees. She thinks fewer homosexuals are joining the military.

"It's just logical," she said. "If the military is having difficulty recruiting people in general because a war is going on, it discourages people in general and that would include homosexual recruits. The advocates of gays in the military prefer to try to take statistics out of context and then try to make their argument accordingly."

"There is no evidence to substantiate Elaine's claim, and plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise," SLDN write on their web site. "First, there is the group of former service members, fired under the law, who are fighting in court to return to the military. And, in the days after September 11, 2001, SLDN was innundated with calls from LGBT Americans wanting to know if they could enlist, and how. And finally, SLDN clients will tell you, by and large, that if they were able to go back to the military and serve openly, they'd gladly do so. (Consider, too, the case of gay Army medic Darren Manzella, who continues to serve today, and is proud to do so.) Elaine is just spinning unfounded theories to make the LGBT community seem unpatriotic."

All three leading Democratic candidates say they will ask Congress to change the law and allow open homosexuals in the ranks if they win the upcoming presidential election.

Last update: 01-22-2008 00:34