A new study is the first assessment of the impact of the gay ban on U.S. military effectiveness in recent Middle East wars. The study, by Dr. Nathaniel Frank, is titled ‘Gays and Lesbians at War: Military Service in Iraq and Afghanistan Under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The study concludes that gays and lesbians serve openly in the Middle East without undermining unit cohesion or the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. When gays are out, they report greater success in bonding, morale, professional advancement, levels of commitment and retention and access to essential support services.
It also finds that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ impairs the capacity of gay troops to develop bonds of trust, minimize stress, prepare for deployment, focus on their mission, advance professionally and access support services, including medical & psychological consultations. And, these effects appear to have an impact not just on gays, but on those around them. See www.gaymilitary.ucsb.edu.