Report: Discharging Gays From Military Cost Taxpayers $363.8 Million

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/02/021306military.htm

Discharging troops under the U.S. military policy on gays cost $363.8 million over 10 years, almost double what the government concluded a year ago, a private report says.

The report, to be released Tuesday by a University of California Blue Ribbon Commission, questioned the methodology the Government Accountability Office used when it estimated that the financial impact of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was at least $190.5 million.

"It builds on the previous findings and paints a more complete picture of the costs," said Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., who has proposed legislation to repeal the policy.

Congress approved the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 1993 during the Clinton administration. It allows gays and lesbians to serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps as long as they abstain from homosexual activity and do not disclose their sexual orientation.

[terrya]

1. It's not just a financial waste.

I think of the translators the military has discharged. Good people needed, especially now. Why? Solely because of their sexual orientation.

Such good people, who want to serve their country, openly, truthfully...discharged from the military solely because of who they are. Because of some bullshit policy designed to maintain "unit cohesion" among the ranks. Code for "maintaining homophobia in the military"

Britain, Canada, Germany all allow gay and lesbian folks to serve in their militaries. Israel...yes, Israel...allows gay and lesbian folks to serve in their military. Do you think there's a problem with "unit cohesion" in Israel's military? I sure don't.

It's ridiculous to continue with this blantantly hateful policy. It's time for the United States to join the rest of the world.