Boost For Plan To Allow Gays Into US Military

Most of the US military believe allowing gay people to serve openly will have little or no impact on their units, the results of a new survey suggest.

The Pentagon conducted a year-long study of a law - known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell - which was introduced in 1993.
It bans homosexuals joining the military unless they keep their sexuality a secret.
An executive summary of the report says: "While a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell will likely, in the short term, bring about some limited and isolated disruption to unit cohesion and retention, we do not believe this disruption will be widespread or long lasting."
The most powerful evidence gathered by the working group came from the survey results sent to 400,000 active duty and reserve service members and 150,000 spouses and family members.
A total of 115,052 people responded, with 70% saying they thought a repeal of the ban would have a mixed or positive effect, or even no effect at all.
Some 92% of active duty or reserve service members said their experiences serving with co-workers they believed to be gay or lesbian were either "very good," "good," or "neither good nor poor".
But the survey does highlight resistance to overturn the ban.

US Marine Corps General James Amos has indicated his resistance

It is strongest among older servicemen, and in the Marines where 46% of respondents believed repealing the law would have negative consequences.
The Marine Commandant, General James Amos, supports his men.
He told his confirmation hearing this September that such a move could damage unit cohesion at a time when America is fighting two wars.
All of America's Nato allies except Turkey allow gay service members. The UK ended its ban in 2000, while Israel started allowing openly gay recruits after 1993.
Among the countries who do not allow homosexuals to serve are Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates ordered the review in February of this year, after President Barack Obama made in clear in his State of the Union address that he wanted to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen are expected to testify on the report in front of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on Thursday and Friday.
A bill that included language to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell passed in the House of Representatives this year but failed to pass in the Senate.
It is unclear whether or not Congress will vote on it again before the end of the 'lame duck' session.