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Gay Serviceman
Goes Unpunished for Violating "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell"

Gay Serviceman
Goes Unpunished for Violating "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell"

Army sergeant Darren Manzella first came out in an article reported in The Advocate last July, and it's now been three weeks since Manzella came out on 60 Minutes, which also aired a home video of him kissing a former boyfriend. But in that time, Manzella, who served as a medic in Kuwait, has not been dismissed or even punished for violating the military policy "don't ask, don't tell," according to USA Today.

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Army sergeant Darren Manzella first came out in an article reported in The Advocate last July, and it's now been three weeks since Manzella came out on 60 Minutes, which also aired a home video of him kissing a former boyfriend. But in that time, Manzella, who served as a medic in Kuwait, has not been dismissed or even punished for violating the military policy "don't ask, don't tell," according to USA Today.

"I thought I would at least be asked about the segment or approached and told I shouldn't speak to the media again," said Manzella, who, according to gay advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, is not alone.

SLDN has documented about 500 openly gay troops currently serving without consequence. "That's the highest number we've ever been aware of," SLDN spokesman Steve Ralls told USA Today. "Their experiences point to an undeniable shift in the armed forces."

Nearly 12,000 troops have been discharged under the policy since it was signed by President Clinton in 1993, but the number of discharges have decreased sharply since the start of the Iraq war.

Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness, an organization supporting the ban on gays and lesbians in the military, tried to contact Manzella's superiors after his appearance on the news program. "His commanders should be disciplined appropriately for failing to do their duty," Donnelly said, after failing to receive any response from officials at his base in Fort Hood, Texas.

The military conducts an investigation whenever a soldier discloses that he's gay, but Manzella said that despite his coming out to his superiors, they reported they found no evidence of homosexuality. (The Advocate)

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Gay Serviceman
Goes Unpunished for Violating "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell"

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