Gay Soldiers Criticize DADT Study

A letter sent Monday to Defense secretary Robert Gates from Citizens for Repeal, which represents active-duty gay and lesbian soldiers, criticizes the lack of input from gay and lesbian service members in the months-long Pentagon study on repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." But lack of input can be attributed to the policy, which prohibits gay and lesbian service members from being open about their identity.

According to The Denver Post, "The letter highlights that gays and lesbians already serve openly in many units with tolerant commanders and claims such units should be studied to understand how and why they work, something impossible under the study's restrictions."

The letter noted, "Our heterosexual counterparts see their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters at arms being unjustifiably called 'a social experiment' and 'potential rapists' while no leadership defends us."

Officials said they are in the process of setting up ways to circumvent the problem, including a hotline or anonymous interviews conducted by a third-party contractor, the Post reported.