What's At Stake?
Repeal DADT
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell keeps many talented Americans from serving this nation.
- We need the most qualified and competent people defending us, regardless of their sexual orientation.
- Research shows none of the countries with openly gay service members have been hurt by their non-discrimination policy (England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Israel and South Africa).
- Researchers agree that not a single country with openly gay service members has reported any decrease in morale, recruitment, retention or cohesion.
- A 2006 Zogby International poll, commissioned by the Michael Palm Center, of U.S combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, found that 75% of were comfortable working with gays and lesbians, and 68% either knew for certain or suspected there homosexual members of their own unit.
- The British military, our strongest ally in Iraq, has openly gay service members working alongside American forces. This has not caused any problems.
- Studies in England and Canada, countries with a non-discrimination policy in their military, show very few complaints of sexual harassment involving homosexual members.
- The FBI, CIA, and Secret Service, along with most police and fire departments around the United States, now allow openly gay Americans to serve in their ranks. These non-discrimination policies have not hurt performance, professionalism, or morale.
- A recent Gallup poll of the American public shows 72% support the right of gays and lesbians to serve in uniform. More significantly, the same Gallup poll found that 91% of young Americans (18-39) think that gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly.
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