Psychoanalysts call for end to military gay ban.

[bluedawg12]

http://www.365gay.com/news/psychoanalysts-call-for-end-to-military-gay-ban/
Psychoanalysts call for end to military gay ban
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
01.28.2009 5:08pm EST
(New York City) The American Psychoanalytic Association is calling on Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the law the bars gays from serving openly in the military.

Send / ShareAdd CommentAt its convention this month in New York City, the APsaA passed a resolution opposing the ban.

“It is the position of APsaA that sexual orientation is not germane to any aspect of military effectiveness, including unit cohesion, morale, recruitment or retention,” the resolution says.

“Empirical evidence, as well as comparative data from foreign militaries and domestic police and fire departments shows that when lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are allowed to serve openly there is no evidence of disruption.”

The resolution goes on to say ” APsaA recognizes and abhors the many detrimental effects the policy has had on individual service members, the military and the United States society since the enactment of Title 10, section 654 in 1994. Years of psychological research and experience have shown the extensive mental toll of keeping one’s sexual orientation hidden. Mandating a ban on self disclosure of sexual orientation for personnel in uniform is thus unnecessarily harmful to their mental health and well being.”

” For the mental health and safety of those in the military and for those who are contemplating joining the military, this repeal needs to happen now. Evidence shows the presence of gays does not undermine unit cohesion. Tens of thousands of gays, lesbians and bisexuals already do serve openly. Discharging gays, lesbians and bisexuals wastes thousands of highly trained, badly needed troops,” said Ethan Grumbach, chair of APsaA’s Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues.

The American Psychoanalytic Association has approximately 3,300 members.

Since DADT was enacted, more than 12,000 servicemembers have been dismissed when it was learned they are gay. According to statistics from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which advocates for gays in the military, an average of two service members are dismissed under the law every day.

Legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” the ban on gays serving openly in the military was taken up in committee last year for the first time, but did not make it to a vote. The bill is expected to be refiled this year. If it is passed President Obama has said he would sign it.

[Skittles]

1. gays have long served honorably in the military

be done with this silly policy already

[bluedawg12]

2. So true, yet, bigots still blather on about unit cohesion ,etc. etc.

:eyes:

[racaulk]

5. "I have no qualms about picking up a gun and taking the life of another human being during wartime,

but I'm uncomfortable with the thought that some dude might look at me in that way when I'm naked in the communal showers."

:eyes:

The justifications for DADT are totally bogus, it creates so much more harm than good (if any), and that policy needs to be removed. Today.

[bluedawg12]

8. Let's not give the gay kids the opportunity to learn some skills,

or serve their country with honor, or better yet, let's keep vilifying and shaming and drumming out the gay men and women who have already served their country with honor and take away their benefits, pension and dehumanize them. :grr:

[Skittles]

11. aw it's crap

I served in the military with many gay folk and there were no problems

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[tbyg52]

4. Well, no @#$%, Sherlock....!

And :woohoo: I got to be #5! (It takes so little to make me happy....! ;) )

Edited for inevitable stupid typo.

[bluedawg12]

7. ...

:rofl:

[nichomachus]

6. There you go again

using science, logic, and reason -- that kind of talk ain't getting you anywhere in the Yoo-Ess-of-Ay.

[bluedawg12]

9. Why use logic and science, those are the tools of the liberuhl devil.

:rofl: :grr:

[Jamastiene]

10. Ah, we silly Americans.

Once again, we are kept too stupid to know we are one of the last countries who have these kinds of stupid homophobic laws.

Did y'all know that?

We are kept so fucking naive in this country, that very few of us are aware that other countries have had integrated (gay/straight/bi) military personnel for ages now with no problems.

Instead, we are in the damn dark ages because so few people bothered to really read the recommendations during DADT years ago, including, apparently, our stupid dumbass backasswards Congress.

God, I hate our government and most of our country today. Goddamn! When are they going to grow up, evolve, and join the damn 21st Century?

[marshall]

12. Hopefully this will be part of the study Obama is ordering

It is timed just right.