It's been more than 10 years since the U.S. military's ban on gay and lesbian personnel, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass," became official.The ban was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton.
Last year the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) filed suit against the ban in federal court.
While the armed forces have dismissed some gay and lesbian service members during the war in Iraq, an unknown number are serving their country without detection.
"Thousands upon thousands of courageous troops -- who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, who are in our National Guard, who patrol our coasts and our skies, who can undoubtedly be found in every area of the armed forces -- aren't afforded the rights and dignity bestowed upon their fellow soldiers simply because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual," said former Human Rights Campaign leader Elizabeth Birch on the 10th anniversary of the military's ban.
Partners of gay military personnel in Iraq have censored letters or avoid displays of affection as troop units departed or returned. Some chapters of the MCC set up support programs for partners who remained in the United States.
SLDN has reported that gay discharges dropped in 2002 to the lowest level since 1996. The war in Iraq likely contributed to the decrease.
However, more than 24 linguists, most trained in Arabic or Korean, have been discharged in recent months.
C. Dixon Osburn, head of the SLDN, said the current climate of terrorist threats underscores the need for Congress to repeal the military's policy against gay and lesbian personnel "for the sake of national security."
"Bigotry undermines readiness," he said.
For complete coverage, see the "Full Story" links on this page, and be sure to check out our news roundup on the war in Iraq.
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