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JUNE 2010

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Impact and Reception

Don't Ask, Don't Tell, often abbreviated DADT, has been on the books since 1993. Prohibiting openly gay, lesbian and bisexual persons from serving openly in the U.S. military, the legislation has stirred nationwide controversy and sparked heated debates on its efficacy, appropriateness and ethicality. Read below to gain some insight into the law's reception, monetary impact, and repercussions.

Gay and Lesbian Service Members - Domestic and Foreign

  • Over 65,000 (2.8 percent) of military personnel are gay or lesbian. Of these, 30,000 (2.5 percent) are in active duty service.

  • Twenty-four other nations, including Israel and Great Britain, allow gays and lesbians to serve openly. Twelve of those nations (50 percent) have served alongside the U.S. during Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq.

  • Among 19 NATO countries, only six (The U.S., Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Turkey) do not allow gays and lesbians to serve openly.

Costs to the Military/Costs to Us

  • Over 13,500 service members have been fired under the policy since 1994. 2000 and 2001 saw the highest number of discharges, with 1,241 and 1,273, respectively.
  • American taxpayers have, in total, paid over $250 million dollars to investigate, discharge and replace service members in violation of the law since 1994.
  • Nearly 800 specialists have been fired from the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Nearly 40 percent (323 in total) of the specialists were linguists. Fifty-five specialized in Arabic.

Societal reception in the polls

  • A 2009 Gallup poll indicated that 60 percent of weekly churchgoers and 58 percent of conservatives favor a repeal of the law.

  • In 2008, a Washington Post/ ABC News poll indicated that 75 percent of Americans felt openly gay persons should be allowed to serve in the United States military, up from 44 percent in 1993.  The same poll revealed 64 percent of Republicans support open service. A little over two-fifths (22 percent) were opposed.

  • A 2007 poll conducted by CNN received similar results, with 79 percent of Americans indicating that openly gay or "homosexual" persons should be allowed to serve, compared to 18 percent who didn't.

Military reception in the polls

  • A 2006 Zogby poll indicated that 73 percent of military personnel are comfortable with lesbians and gays.

  • Nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of service members indicated knowing a member of their unit is gay. Twenty-one percent of combat unit personnel who served in Iraq or Afghanistan reported the same.

SOURCES:

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
http://sldn.org  

Human Rights Campaign
http://hrc.org

Disclaimer: Although we try to use the most credible sources, we are not responsible for any incorrect findings.

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