Don't Discount Contributions and Heroism of Gays in the Military

These foes of repeal claim that having openly gay people serving would undermine morale, good order, and discipline. They argue that "grave harm" would come to the United States. They say lifting the ban would cause a mass exodus of soldiers from the military, citing a Mili tary Times newspaper poll as their source for such a claim. (The paper admits the poll's limitations, and a professional pollster has eviscerated its methodology.)

The gays-will-destroy-the-military argument has been debunked, repeatedly. It is an easy but hollow sound bite. Credible studies (including a 1993 Rand report) have all concluded that openly gay people do not pose a threat to unit cohesion. The militaries did not come crumbling down in Israel, Great Britain, and 25 other countries that now allow gays and lesbians to serve openly. Gay and straight, service members deserve a bit more credit as trained professionals than the far right gives them credit for.

Those who want to keep don't ask, don't tell in place seem to have this mindset that if we allow gays in the military, havoc will ensue. Breaking news: Gays and lesbians are already serving—an estimated 65,000 of us. Some are even serving—gasp!—openly, without incident. As Stephen Colbert reminds us, Fehrenbach did not receive his nine medals before he was gay. Sexual orientation is irrelevant as long as the service members can complete the mission and complete it well.

Gay and lesbian patriots are counting on their commander in chief to get this done soon. President Obama's recent appointment of Republican New York Rep. John McHugh, a new proponent of repeal, is an encouraging sign of forward movement. But much more is needed. As long as Congress and the president wait to tackle repeal, recruitment, retention, and readiness will suffer.

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Read: Allowing Gays in the Military Would Be Unfair and Hurt Troop Morale

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