Military's Gay Body Count Grows

How many soldiers did the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy cost the country in January of this year? The answer is 11. That number included a military police officer, four infantry personnel, a health care specialist and most alarmingly an information collector. Congressman Jim Moran (a Democrat representing Virginia) released the information on Thursday and shared that he has requested monthly updates on the impact of the policy from the Pentagon.

Moran sits on the House committee that oversees military spending and continues to be vocal on the human costs of the policy. "How many more good soldiers are we willing to lose due to a bad policy that makes us less safe and secure?"

President Obama indicated while campaigning last year that if elected, he would likely end the policy. His administration has indicated that the president remains committed to reviewing the policy and getting feedback from all interested parties, but that he will do so when the time is right.

The debate on the policy resurfaced last week when a bill to end the restriction on gays in the armed services was introduced by Rep. Ellen Tauscher (a Democrat representing Walnut Creek, California). "This is an important civil rights issue. We also need the strongest military possible, and we need to recruit the best and brightest Americans. Some happen to be gay," Tauscher said when announcing the bill.

Under the DADT policy the military has discharged close to 10,000 soldiers over the past 10 years. The number of annual discharges has decreased every year, mostly attributed to the military being stretched thin by the war in Iraq and aggressions in Afghanistan. The military has historically played a huge role in breaking down racial and gender barriers and now has the same opportunity to help advance rights for gays and lesbians.

How frustrated are you with how slow reviewing and changing the policy is moving?