Women Disproportionately Affected By "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

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.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[JoeBlows]

It should be obvious that it is more likely a homosexual woman will be interested in the military than a homosexual man will be. Thus, a far higher percentage of women serving will be homosexual than the percentage of men serving will be homosexual. QED

[strifeknot]

Let's not forget to give thanks to the great neo-liberal Bill Clinton for Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and for The Defense of Marriage Act.

[JoeBlows]

Are you another of those darned compassionate conservatives?

[strifeknot]

Read my profile, lazy one. I'm leftist who understands the Democrats are beyond hope.

Nader '08

[drheelin]

Kind of off topic from the article here, but since we are discussing women and the Military, I will bring it up anyway. In this age of equality, how come Women arent required to register with Selective Service when they turn 18 years old yet? Is this government sponsored sexism? If the draft is re-instated, they dont all have to be taken, but thier name should be on the list. Shouldnt the Military at least be pretending that they consider Women equal?

[yappnmutt]

its called selective feminism. feminism has always been about power. there is no power in the possibility of being drafted and killed on a battlefield therefore it is not on the agenda.

[HepsibahStarbuck]

Women knew fully well that Equal Rights meant equal opportunity with the Selective Service, and were willing to make that commitment back in the '70's when we tried to get the ERA passed. The idea that women would have to register for the draft was accepted by feminist of the day. it was our fathers and mothers that freaked and voted it down. Read your history. The two biggest issues they hit us with was the draft and unisex bathrooms.



And since the ERA did NOT pass, despite our best efforts and willingness to be considered equal on all fronts, including the draft, your "selective feminism" comment is nothing but willful ignorance of the issue.

[rigormrtis]

Let's see.....

Straight men generally don't tolerate gay men. But most women do not seem to have problems with gay men.

Gay women on the other hand, straight men don't like them, nor do straight women.

Just some generalizations from a straight guy who lives in a gay town (portland).

[Ohio]

Somehow I don't find it all that surprising that possibly more gay women than gay men might find military service an attractive choice.

[hugs4u]

The trouble is women are more outgoing in showing affections, so it stands to reason they would get caught hugging and kissing more then the men. In reality they should be able to serve just like straight people do. they are just as good as, if not better then straight service people.

[robXdion]

umm, the military's mission is to maintain good order and discipline. It's not a place to be affectionate and hugging. Can you picture the "Care Bears" in the military?

[Tom95134]

It also may be easier to entrap a gay woman into revealing her sexual preference. If she is hit on repeatedly and declines she will eventually be asked if she doesn't like men. Just to get the guy off her case she might say yes. Then she has violated the "don't tell" rule.

[darker]

Americans HATE WOMEN.

So what do you expect?

They "bitchified" Hillary and are "working over" Michelle Obama.

American Voters want LIES, fake cowboys, bullsh*t macho and lots of
misogyny. (Look it up if you are illiterate),

[robXdion]

And the women get their misandry in too for good measure. It's even felt to be justified. And often young boys are are the beneficiaries. They then grow up to retaliate with misogyny. See how that works?

[browndog2]

Bush is not only a homophobe, but he has to couple that with sexism. Can any human be worse?

[strifeknot]

It's Bill Clinton that gave us Don't Ask, Don't Tell, along with the Defense of Marriage Act.