http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/washington/23pentagon...f=slogin&oref=slogin

"‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Hits Women Much More

By THOM SHANKER
WASHINGTON — The Army and Air Force discharged a disproportionate number of women in 2007 under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prohibits openly gay people from serving in the military, according to Pentagon statistics gathered by an advocacy group.

While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged under the policy last year were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges under the policy last year were women.

By comparison for 2006, about 35 percent of the Army’s discharges and 36 percent of the Air Force’s were women, according to the statistics.

The information was gathered under a Freedom of Information Act request by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a policy advocacy organization.

“Women make up 15 percent of the armed forces, so to find they represent nearly 50 percent of Army and Air Force discharges under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is shocking,” said Aubrey Sarvis, the organization’s executive director. “Women in particular have been caught in the crosshairs of this counterproductive law.”

The organization compiled gender statistics on the discharges, but conducted no formal set of interviews and thus could offer no verifiable reason for the increase in women separated from the military under “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

[Article continued in link above]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dupontgaf,

I am not surprised by this report at all.

IHAWKER, the data have always indicated a disproportionate impact on women, from the very start of DADT discharges. This year, though, it is particularly egregious. Explanations as to why are tough to find, though. Certainly none will be forthcoming from DoD.

This love-hate relationship the military has with lesbian, gay, and bisexual personnel is highlighted with the response from the pentagon saying

“Separated members have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other federal agencies, the Department of Defense or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor,” said Eileen M. Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman on personnel issues. “We expect all service members to be treated with dignity and respect all the time.”


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-ralls/i-love-you-pl...o-away_b_108611.html "I love you, please go away. I hate you, please won't you stay."

quote:

“We expect all service members to be treated with dignity and respect all the time.”

This is my favorite DoD mantra on this issue. They've taken to saying this at every opportunity, almost since the law was passed back in 1993. But the hypocrisy involved in DoD talking about dignity and respect with respect to gay and lesbian service members is breathtaking.

What dignity? What respect? DoD requires gays and lesbians to lie about who they are at every turn, to violate the honor code of their service, and to live in fear that at any moment they can be discovered and kicked out, losing their job, their career and their financial support.

Oh yeah, and one other, small, minor detail. DoD says to its gay and lesbians servicemembers, "You cannot have sex with the person you love, or anyone else, ever!"