Today UCSB’s Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military released a new study on the impact of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on U.S. military effectiveness in the Middle East.
The study concludes that gays and lesbians serve openly in the Middle East without undermining unit cohesion or the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. When gays are out, they report greater success in bonding, morale, professional advancement, levels of commitment and retention, and access to essential support services.
It also finds that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” impairs the capacity of gay troops to develop bonds of trust, minimize stress, prepare for deployment, focus on their mission, advance professionally, and access support services, including medical and psychological consultations. And, these effects appear to have an impact not just on gays, but on those around them, by creating an atmosphere of dishonesty and distrust as well as disrespect for the law and the principles of integrity that are essential to military service. […]
The study is based on thirty in-depth interviews with gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since Oct. 7, 2001, as well as on field observations made stateside. It also draws on secondary research and interviews with government officials, academics and other experts on military affairs. All research was conducted between February and September 2004.
» “Gays and Lesbians at War: Military Service in Iraq and Afghanistan Under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” (Word format), Nathaniel Frank, 15 Sept. 2004 (via Rogue Slayer Law Student).
2 replies on “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in the Middle East”
Let’s hope it leads to positive policy changes.
Here’s hoping. The other thing to remember is that gays have served openly in the militaries of other countries of the world and no one is aruguing that it’s been a disadvantage or problem. Even when the person in question was a pre-op MtF transexual, in the case of Israel a few years back.