Military dismissals over homosexuality rose in ’05

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense reported that 726 service members were discharged from the military for being homosexual in 2005, which represents an 11 percent increase over the previous year. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group that opposes the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, obtained the statistics through a Freedom of Information Act request and released them Aug. 13, according to The Associated Press.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” went into effect during the Clinton administration in 1994 and prohibits the military from inquiring about the sexual behavior of service members but requires the dismissal of those who openly acknowledge being homosexual or are otherwise found out. Despite the dramatic increase in dismissals in 2005, The New York Times said a review by the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress, found that more service members were discharged last year for drug offenses, pregnancy and weight problems than for being homosexual.  (TAB)