Report: Military
kicks out disproportionate number of lesbian service
members

Although women make up only 15% of the U.S. armed forces, they account for 30% of those dismissed under "don't ask, don't tell," a new report by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network indicates. Under the ban on openly gay service members, 219 out of the 726 receiving discharges in FY 2005 were women--146 in the Army, 31 in the Navy, 28 in the Air Force, and 14 in the Marines. "Women have a long and rich history of service to our country," said SLDN executive director C. Dixon Osburn in a statement. "Our nation is safer and more secure because of the contributions made by all women, including lesbian and bisexual women, in our armed forces. It is high time we honored the service of these patriotic women by repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' once and for all." (The Advocate)